(Photo: Xinhua)

ARUSHA, Tanzania, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Tanzania on Friday launched its office in Dodoma in an effort to support the initiatives of the Tanzanian government to shift to the capital city.

Speaking at the launching event, Chinese Ambassador Wang Ke noted that the Tanzanian government has put in place initiatives that have generated new trend and provided a strong impetus to economic and social development.

She noted that among the initiatives is shifting the capital to Dodoma, a long-cherished wish first proposed by the father of the nation, Julius Nyerere in 1973.

"It is significant for the central government to maintain closer ties with regions in the country and can also strengthen the linkages between the coastal areas and inland regions to promote common development," she said.

She added that President John Magufuli is committed to realizing this wish within his term of office, for he has shown extraordinary courage and resolve by overcoming various difficulties and making remarkable progress.

According to the ambassador, the launch of the office is not only to respond to President Magufuli's proposal but to show China's firm support to the implementation of major development initiatives and strategies of Tanzania.

While officiating at the event, Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Palamagamba Kabudi said "China is one among the very first embassies to open a consulate here in Dodoma."

"This is a testimony to the importance of diplomatic relations between the United Republic of Tanzania and the People's Republic of China and it reflects the close relations that exist between our two countries," said the minister.

"From the outset of our bilateral relations, China has assisted Tanzania with a variety of generous economic aid programs," he said. "The most notable being the TAZARA Railway built from 1970 to 1976 with Chinese funding, labour, and technical assistance."

"To date, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway remains one of the biggest projects China has ever undertaken overseas and one of its largest aid endowments," he said.

He added that in recent years, Sino-Tanzania ties have evolved into more modern and pragmatic relations with greater and diversified engagements in the fields of trade, infrastructural project development and investments.