Joint China-Tanzania military exercise enters phase of live-fire drill

The "Peace and Unity – 2024" joint military exercise between China and Tanzania entered the phase of live-fire drill with an opening ceremony held at the Mapinga training center in Dar es Salaam on Monday.

The opening ceremony began at 9:00 with soldiers from both countries standing in formations and national anthems of China and Tanzania being played.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jenerali Jacob John Mkunda, commander of the Tanzania People's Defense Force, and the commander of the participating Chinese troops said that military relations are an important part of the bilateral relations between the two countries. Taking opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the two sides will carry forward friendship and resolutely deliver on the important common understandings between the two heads of state, and conduct the friendly exchanges between the two militaries, so as to promote the bilateral ties and contribute to regional peace and stability.

"With high morale, high-quality military performance and coordinated joint operations, we will work shoulder by shoulder with Tanzanian military. We will fully demonstrate Chinese military's resolution and capability in safeguarding regional stability and peace," said Gao Jian, officer of the participating Chinese troops.

At the opening ceremony, Chinese soldiers showed their Tanzanian counterparts major military equipment to be used in the joint exercise.

Over one thousand soldiers from both sides will participate in the following joint exercise with various types of weapons and equipment to be used.

In the next step, in-depth exchanges will be organized on joint counter-terrorism operations.

The two sides will also conduct joint command, joint specialized training and live-fire drill.

Horgos Port, a major border junction linking China to Central Asia, handled over 38 million tons of goods in the first ten months of this year, marking a 10 percent year-on-year increase, according to the latest customs data.

Located on the border of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the port has played a pivotal role in the growing development of trade routes between China and Europe.

Data showed that from January to October this year, the main imported goods through the Horgos Port included electromechanical products, agricultural products, food items, and metal ores and sands. Exports mainly included new energy vehicles, electromechanical products, high-tech goods, textiles, and related products.