Discover New Africa, Explore New Opportunities Phoenix Global Development Forum for Enterprises Held in Tanzania

On October 3, the "Discover New Africa, Explore New Opportunities" Phoenix Global Development Forum for Enterprises was held at the Johari Rotana in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The forum was co-hosted by Phoenix TV and the Chinese Enterprises Association (Tanzania), bringing together representatives from the governments, business, finance, and academic sectors of China and Tanzania.

 

Group Photo at the Event

As the first on-ground event in Africa for Phoenix TV, the forum aims to focus on new trends in China-Africa economic and trade cooperation and explore in depth the opportunities and challenges facing companies expanding into Africa.

At the opening ceremony of the forum, H.E. Chen Mingjian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China in the United Republic of Tanzania, stated that as the birthplace of the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith towards Africa, Tanzania is a hotspot for Chinese investment in Africa. In 2025, bilateral trade between China and Tanzania reached USD 11.28 billion, and China has long maintained its position as Tanzania's largest trading partner and largest source of foreign investment. Ambassador Chen emphasized that China's fully implemented zero-tariff policy is accelerating Chinese enterprises' investment in local factories and technology transfer in Tanzania. Chinese enterprises have created over 150,000 direct local jobs, with local employees accounting for more than 85%. She noted that the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania will continue to serve as a bridge to safeguard businesses from both countries and push the China-Tanzania comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level.

 

H.E. Chen Mingjian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China in the United Republic of Tanzania, delivers opening remarks

In his remarks, Zhang Tong, Vice President of Phoenix TV, noted that this was the first time "Phoenix Go Global" had come to Africa and landed in Tanzania, aiming to help Chinese enterprises better understand Africa through in-depth visits and face-to-face communication, while allowing the experiences, needs, and creativity of African partners to be seen by the world, transforming mutual acquaintance in news coverage into mutual achievement in reality. He added that over the past three years, "Phoenix Go Global" has visited multiple countries and regions worldwide, stating “We are increasingly convinced that diverse experiences and cultures can open up new possibilities for one another, and that mutual respect and understanding can create new opportunities for cooperation."

Zhang Tong, Vice President of Phoenix TV, delivers opening remarks

Shigeki Komatsubara, Resident Representative of UNDP Tanzania, spoke highly in his address of the exemplary significance of China-Tanzania cooperation for Global South countries exploring economic transformation and sustainable development. He pointed out that the forum was a vivid manifestation of South-South cooperation yielding tangible results, noting that the deep partnership established over decades between China and Tanzania has brought not only infrastructure and technology transfer, but also set a benchmark for cross-border cooperation and experience sharing. He also mentioned that peace and security are prerequisites for sustainable development, and UNDP is deepening cooperation with the Tanzanian government through initiatives such as the "Dumisha Amani II" project to foster a stable environment for economic growth and domestic and foreign investment by strengthening social cohesion and risk prevention.

 

Shigeki Komatsubara, Resident Representative of UNDP Tanzania, delivers opening remarks

Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, Minister of State in the President's Office for Planning and Investment of the United Republic of Tanzania, elaborated on the transformation path of Tanzania-China economic and trade cooperation from the perspective of national strategy alignment and industrial upgrading. He proposed leveraging Tanzania's regional market advantage—serving a population of 450 million across East and Southern Africa—to build Tanzania into a manufacturing and logistics hub for Chinese companies facing the entire African continent. Meanwhile, taking the revitalization of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA Railway) as an opportunity, he suggested jointly creating a "TAZARA Railway Prosperity Belt" connecting industries, mining, and logistics.

 

Prof. Kitila Mkumbo, Minister of State in the President's Office for Planning and Investment of the United Republic of Tanzania, delivers opening remarks

During the keynote speech session, prominent leaders and experts from government, business, and academia delivered in-depth insights into key issues surrounding China-Tanzania cooperation. Ambassador Dr. Aziz Mlima, Board Chairman of the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), delivered a keynote speech titled "Blueprint and New Opportunities under the Tanzania Development Vision 2050 (DIRA 2050)", systematically elaborating on Tanzania's investment environment and transformation dividends under the guidance of DIRA 2050. Dr. Mlima pointed out that Tanzania is not only an investment destination, but also a production, trade, and logistics hub serving the East and Southern African regional markets. He called on Chinese enterprises to deepen cooperation in industrialization, technology transfer, and local supply chains to jointly promote a transition from short-term commercial trade to long-term structural industrial upgrading.

 

Ambassador Dr. Aziz Mlima, Board Chairman of the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), delivers keynote speech

Jiang Yuntao, Chairman of the Chinese Enterprises Association (Tanzania) and Chairman of CRJE (East Africa) Limited, delivered a speech themed "Chinese Enterprises in Tanzania Supporting DIRA 2050". He noted that Chinese enterprises will align closely with DIRA 2050, focusing on empowering traditional infrastructure with digital technology and planning to introduce construction expertise such as "smart ports" to Tanzania. In green construction, environmental protection standards like "ecological corridors" will be integrated throughout project design and construction. Furthermore, regarding local talent development, Chinese enterprises are launching specialized training initiatives such as "Chinese Workmanship" and leveraging "Luban Workshop" projects to continuously impart practical skills to local youth and women, building a sustainable reserve of technical talent for Tanzania's industrial upgrading.

 

Jiang Yuntao, Chairman of the Chinese Enterprises Association (Tanzania) and Chairman of CRJE (East Africa) Limited, delivers keynote speech

Prof. Humphrey Moshi, Director of the Centre for Chinese Studies and Professor of Economics at the University of Dar es Salaam, focused his speech on "What Chinese Enterprises Bring to Tanzania". Based on traditional China-Tanzania friendship and aligned with multilateral platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), he systematically detailed the comprehensive driving force of Chinese enterprises on Tanzania's socio-economic development across economic growth, industrialization, infrastructure, and job creation. Prof. Moshi noted that Chinese business practices align closely with DIRA 2050, urging both sides to further deepen innovation in agricultural modernization, local currency settlement, and joint ventures to elevate mutually beneficial cooperation to higher levels.

 

Prof. Humphrey Moshi, Director of the Center for Chinese Studies and Professor of Economics at the University of Dar es Salaam, delivers keynote speech

Dr. Lisa Wang Xiangyun, Chairman of the Investment Chapter of the Chinese Enterprises Association (Tanzania), Chairman of Weihai Huatan Supply Chain, and Chairman of East Africa Commercial and Logistics Center, spoke on "New Opportunities for Logistics and Supply Chains and the Upgrade of ChinaTanzania TwoWay Trade in the Zero Tariff Era". She explored practical paths to construct and upgrade supply chain and logistics networks amid trade facilitation and zero-tariff policy dividends. Wang stated that China-Tanzania trade is evolving from a one-way commodity flow to deep, two-way industrial integration. Looking ahead, efforts should focus on promoting two-way trade upgrading, building resilient, smart, and green supply chains, and constructing a collaborative ecosystem among government, industry, academia, research, and finance, creating a full-chain comprehensive overseas service platform that helps Chinese companies not only enter Africa but also lay deep roots to share new cooperation opportunities.

 

Dr. Lisa Wang Xiangyun, Chairman of the Investment Chapter of the Chinese Enterprises Association (Tanzania), Chairman of Weihai Huatan Supply Chain, and Chairman of East Africa Commercial and Logistics Center, delivers keynote speech

During the panel discussion themed "Working toward DIRA 2050 Together, Jointly Build the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future", guest speakers engaged in in-depth discussion. Xu Qian, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam, pointed out that deepening cooperation requires "investing in people" and empowering youth employment through industry-education integration combining "language + skills". Lin Chugeng, Vice President of Gongkan Group, drawing on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area experience, stated that Tanzania needs to enhance both infrastructure hard power and policy soft power to accelerate turning resource and demographic dividends into development momentum. Linas Kahisha, Head of China Desk and Infrastructure Business at National Bank of Commerce Tanzania, noted that China-Tanzania financial cooperation is moving toward deeper integration, with banks empowering trade through local currency settlement and PPP financing. Tang Jingyu, Secretary-General of the Chinese Enterprises Association (Tanzania), remarked that digital connectivity is fundamentally about connecting hearts, and two-way cultural dissemination such as local dubbing and translation of TV series can further consolidate the humanistic foundation of cooperation. Kinanasy Seif, Director of Outreach and Membership Services at the Tanzania Private Sector Federation, called on both sides to move beyond traditional trade and contracting to deepen investment partnerships such as joint ventures to achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

 

Panel discussion on "Working toward DIRA 2050 Together, Jointly Build the China-Africa Community with a Shared Future"

The forum was supported and guided by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Republic of Tanzania and the UNDP Tanzania Country Office, with academic support from the Centre for Chinese Studies and the Confucius Institute at the University of Dar es Salaam, and special thanks to CRJE (East Africa) Limited, Johari Rotana, and iFLYTEK for their strong support.   

"Discover New Africa" encompasses a diverse suite of media products, including documentary feature series, high-end executive interviews, and global expansion salons. The project team will venture into key African countries and industrial parks to objectively document Chinese enterprises' local manufacturing, technological applications, and market expansion efforts. Concurrently, the team will conduct in-depth interviews with high-level guests—such as heads of Chinese enterprises in Africa, business leaders, and representatives from local African governments and industry bodies—to strengthen corporate voice and brand influence in the region. Beyond the camera, building on successful experiences in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, the project will establish government-business dialogue platforms by hosting global expansion salons to foster closer links between Chinese enterprises and African political and business leaders.   

The launch of "Discover New Africa" marks the official expansion of Phoenix TV's international event brand "Phoenix Go Global" to the African continent. Aiming to build "the preferred international communication platform for globalizing enterprises" and serve as a trusted partner for Chinese companies going global and international enterprises entering China, "Phoenix Go Global" has hosted numerous events across key international hubs such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East, bringing together high-level representatives from government, business, and academia to explore opportunities and challenges in global expansion.   

The building of the "Phoenix Go Global" brand and the implementation of "Discover New Africa" rely on Phoenix TV's robust global communication network and deep local resources. As the largest overseas Chinese-language cultural and media group, Phoenix TV will continue to strengthen its on-the-ground reporting on major international events, foster global dialogue, and present Chinese culture from an international perspective, committed to developing into an omni-media international media group serving global audiences. With 63 bureaus worldwide and an integrated media matrix spanning television, digital platforms, outdoor screens, print media, mobile applications, and social media, the group leverages its unique advantages on global presence, global coverage and global dissemination to build an extensive news gathering and editorial network, accumulate rich experience in front-line reporting and content production, and foster deep localised resources. In Africa, the European Channel and Phoenix InfoNews Channel provide full coverage via digital television, online video, and satellite networks, reaching audiences across 54 African countries and regions, offering strong international communication guarantees and localized resource support for Chinese enterprises' overseas expansion and brand building. (End)

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