STORY: Tanzanian MPs laud BRI projects
DATELINE: Sept. 12, 2023
LENGTH: 0:04:05
LOCATION: MWANZA, Tanzania
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GODFEY MWAMBE, Member of parliament Tanzania
2. various of participants in the event
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHANG JUNLE, Managing Director of CCECC in Tanzania
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CHEN MINGJIAN, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania
5. various of construction site 

STORYLINE:

Tanzanian members of Parliament on Saturday said projects being undertaken under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework are helping the East African nation to open up its economy.

The MPs made the commendation during a visit to two major infrastructural projects undertaken by Chinese companies in the Mwanza and Shinyanga regions.

Geoffrey Mwambe, leader of the Tanzania-China Parliamentarian Friendship Group, said projects under the BRI framework were helping to support the country's social and economic development.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): GODFEY MWAMBE, Member of parliament Tanzania
"We have heard here there about 17 local companies who have outsourced some of the construction works by CCECC, which is good for local content. So 17 is not a small number. And they also gain experience. We want next time, after a few years, the local companies will work with CCECC to build some of the infrastructure networks. But also we have heard there are about 200 engineers, local engineers, which is good for us as a country. We are a developing country in terms of technology and capacities. We hope the local engineers participating in such big and landmark projects will be able to gain experience and therefore later on to be able to execute some of the projects by ourselves to learn from China by participating in their projects. So we as members of parliament would like to extend our warm appreciation but also to continue to encourage you to work with us."

Zhang Junle, managing director of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) in Tanzania, said the construction of the Magufuli Bridge, named after former President John Pombe Magufuli, has reached 78 percent complete.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZHANG JUNLE, Managing Director of CCECC in Tanzania
"During the construction of Magufuli Bridge, a lot of up-to-date technologies, construction technologies, and technology workmanship have been used. So many local employees and technicians are trained for the construction of the bridge. And we hope that upon the completion of this project, there will be around 200 Tanzanian engineers, technicians and skilled workers will be trained and developed for the construction skills with the bridge. This is good for local people."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): CHEN MINGJIAN, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania
"The Magufuli Bridge here we are connects Geita and Mwanza regions. Upon completion, it will become the longest low-tower cable steady bridge in East Africa. And it's an international channel from Tanzania to the neighboring countries such as Rwanda and Uganda. It is of great significance for improving the quality of life of people in the Great Lakes and promoting regional economic and social development. The project has been listed also as the key project of the Belt and Road (Initiative). The Chinese government therefore attaches great importance to it and guides the Chinese enterprise to ensure project progress and construction quality."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Mwanza, Tanzania.
(XHTV)