DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- China and Tanzania on Wednesday called for stronger youth exchanges, skills development and innovation to deepen bilateral relations and support the development aspirations of the two countries.

Speaking at the China-Tanzania Dialogue on Youth Development and Exchange held to mark International Youth Day, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian said that young people represent the future of bilateral relations and a vital force in building a China-Africa community with a shared future.

Chen said youth exchanges between China and Tanzania had become increasingly vibrant, with Tanzanian young people benefiting from Chinese language learning, technical training and vocational skills programs.

Fredrick Salukele, director of technical education and vocational skills training at Tanzania's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, said Tanzania wanted stronger partnerships between Chinese companies, universities and vocational institutions.

He added that cooperation should focus on structured internships and apprenticeships, scholarships, joint research and innovation, industry-supported skills development, technology transfer and long-term institutional partnerships.

Yu Changxue, director of the Center for International People-to-People Exchange under China's Ministry of Education, said that skills exchanges could provide Tanzanian young people with greater opportunities to acquire professional competencies and contribute to industrialization and modernization.

Yu encouraged young people to embrace emerging fields including the digital economy, green development and the blue economy, while strengthening people-to-people ties between China and Tanzania.