Envoy impressed by Sino-Tanzania bilateral relations
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E-mail China.org.cn, August 28, 2014
Q: What is your take on the China's Ambassador Tanzania Mr Lu Youqing?
A: We know each other very well. I have a high esteem for Ambassador Lu. I have had a chance to reflect on what he said to the Chinese investors and companies in Tanzania. He gave a warning to companies investing in Tanzania, saying they should avoid corruption and quarrels. He said there are some Chinese nationals and companies that are not doing clean business.
They lower the price of investment making their quality of work not appealing. Within a very short period of time, the projects collapse altogether. The Ambassador also warned the Chinese not to involve themselves in illegal businesses, saying that portrays a bad image of the otherwise good country. Ambassador Lu said directly that we should follow and fight corruption.
The Preventing and Combating Corruption Bureau is very effective. It has done a very good work and still doing that work. It is regulating some of the competitions in order to avoid corrupt practices, especially in tendering of major projects. .
Q: What can you say about Tanzanians' conduct in China?
A: Actually, we have Tanzania Business Associations centres in China and some are based in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Tanzanians mainly purchase goods such as clothes, construction equipment, building materials, machinery and electronics. Their conduct has been very good. They also interact well with the Chinese business community and some Tanzanians have established clearing and forwarding for foreign companies, and are exporting goods to home.
But we also have bad elements. There are Tanzanians who came here illegally and are staying in this country. We have told them that we won't accept that. Some are engaging in drug trafficking, others have been nabbed and sentenced while there are those still waiting to be sentenced. Tanzanians should not be cheated by dealers to haul drugs to China or Hong Kong, they will be arrested. There are detection systems at all entry points. The penalty is heavy for anyone convicted.
Q: There is the issue of substandard goods and people are complaining that their country is a dumping ground.
A: This is quite a big concern for both governments. China has instituted very heavy penalty for counterfeit goods. Tanzanians who buy goods around here are required to go to the right companies and also contact the authorities so that they may procure goods that have gone through quality clearance. It also requires Tanzania to check standards for goods shipped into the country.
Counterfeit goods are not accepted. Normally, once discovered, they are destroyed and the traders are penalized. The danger of low-quality goods is that they could be hazardous to population. For example, if they are electrical substandard goods, they may cause fire. If they areconstruction materials, they can be a risk to people's lives. Both governments are signatories to regulations that check these goods before they are exported.
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