Chinese cuisine is becoming an increasingly popular choice in Tanzania, with the mouthwatering flavors enticing both locals and visitors alike and helping build bridges for cross-cultural exchanges through people's palates.
The emergence of Chinese flavors appearing on dinner tables and restaurants throughout the east African country comes as more Chinese natives are making the long journey and setting up businesses far from home.
Among them is Han Baoming, a culinary trailblazer who took a leap of faith just a year ago, leaving his homeland to infuse Tanzania with the essence of Chinese cuisine. He is now serving as a chef in a Halal Restaurant in Dar es salaam, the largest city in east Africa.
"Most people love soup noodles and [skewers] and special Chinese rice. Every day we have so many customers. Tanzanian customers, Chinese customers, American customers and [people] from many countries come here," said Han.
From delicately crafted dumplings to Chinese-inspired fast food, the restaurants here serve a variety of dishes made of fresh ingredients, drawing in droves of discerning diners.
In addition to the tasty food, many customers are also attracted to enjoy a feast of flavors at an affordable price.
Along with serving up traditional classics, these Chinese restaurants are also offering dishes that incorporate local ingredients, with the chefs increasingly using locally-sourced products and flavors to create exciting new culinary blends that are more appealing to customers
"They provide us with a wide variety of food options. Whether I go on my own or with my bosses, going to different restaurants makes us really happy. It's very good," said Mohammad Seif, a local customer.
Chinese cuisine gains popularity in Tanzania as local diners lap up flavors
The United States has long been the major external factor affecting Haiti's security, stability, and development, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, on Monday, who also condemned the U.S. for exacerbating Haiti's economic challenges by imposing sweeping tariffs.
Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, Geng expressed China's deep concern over Haiti's worsening crisis and rampant gang violence, its near-collapse state, and the desperate situation of its population.
For over a century, the United States has blatantly deployed troops, installed puppet governments, and manipulated Haiti's constitution, entrenching itself in Haiti's political affairs, said Geng.
He noted that just a year ago, the United States orchestrated the current political transition arrangements in Haiti. However, following a shift in its own government, the United States has turned a blind eye to that very transition, leaving Haiti mired in internal conflict and turmoil.
According to Geng, the United States has always been the main source of weapons for Haiti, allowing illegal weapons to flow into Haiti from Florida.
In October 2023, the United States spearheaded the formation of the Multinational Security Support Mission, pledging financial support. However, in the past year and more, its actual contributions have been relatively limited. At one point, the Untied States even attempted to convert the mission into a UN peacekeeping operation, citing a lack of funds, said Geng.
This is an apparent act to shift the burden onto the UN and its member states, treating them as little more than an ATM machine, Geng added.
Geng also highlighted the U.S. role in undermining Haiti's development.
While professing support for the Haitian people, the United States has significantly cut foreign aid and continued deporting Haitian immigrants on the pretext of national priorities when Haiti is in dire need of support, said the Chinese envoy. "What is even more shocking is that not long ago, while the United States defied world opinion by imposing sweeping tariffs on all trade partners, it also extended its so-called baseline tariff of 10 percent to Haiti, one of the world's least developed countries as defined by the UN. This act of unilateralism, protectionism, and economic bullying is not just aimed at the so-called competitors like China. It has also inflicted damage on a nation teetering on the edge of collapse, such as a fragile country like Haiti, where the people are in dire straits. This is not only cruel and absurd, but also profoundly heartbreaking," said Geng.
Chinese envoy slams US for negative role in Haiti's crisis
