Foreign Affairs Minister Kombo on official visit to China
Beijing. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, arrived in Beijing on June 9, 2025, to begin a working visit to the People’s Republic of China to enhance diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
Mr Kombo was received by a senior Chinese foreign affairs official, Mr Xu Zhongsheng, and Tanzania’s Ambassador to China, Mr Khamis Mussa Omar.
Mr Kombo is leading the Tanzanian delegation to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Coordinators’ Meeting, scheduled for June 11–12 in Beijing.
The high-level meeting brings together ministers from African states and China to review the implementation of resolutions adopted at previous FOCAC summits and to chart a way forward in consolidating cooperation.
Following the FOCAC meeting, the minister and his delegation will attend the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, set to take place from June 13 to 15 in Changsha City.
The event is expected to serve as a platform for deepening trade, promoting investment opportunities, and showcasing business ventures between China and African countries.
On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, Mr Kombo is expected to hold talks with Mr Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and China’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The discussions will focus on strengthening the strategic partnership between Tanzania and China, with emphasis on political cooperation and economic engagement.
In addition to official meetings in the Chinese capital, the minister is also scheduled to visit Sichuan and Shenzhen provinces, where he will meet provincial leaders and hold engagements with prominent Chinese investment and business companies.
The discussions will seek to bolster bilateral cooperation and encourage Chinese firms to explore investment opportunities in Tanzania.
As part of his working itinerary, Minister Kombo will also visit the Consulate General of the United Republic of Tanzania in Guangzhou.
While in the southern city, he is expected to meet with Tanzanian nationals residing in the area and listen to their concerns and views on matters affecting them.
Tanzania and China have long maintained cordial diplomatic relations, with cooperation spanning infrastructure development, trade, education, health, and cultural exchange. Mr Kombo’s visit is seen as a step towards further cementing those ties and expanding avenues for mutual benefit.
