Signing ceremony for revitalization of Tanzania-Zambia Railway Photo: courtesy of China Railway Construction Corporation

To catalyze sustainable development of the project after its revitalization, the governments of China, Tanzania and Zambia agreed to jointly build the TAZARA Railway prosperity belt, advance the comprehensive development of regions along the railway in a systematic manner, and unleash the potential of regional development in Tanzania and Zambia, Mao Ning, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on Friday.

Mao made the remarks as Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Tanzanian Vice President Emmanuel John Nchimbi attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the TAZARA revitalization project on Thursday. 

Under the personal guidance and effort of the heads of state of the three countries, the TAZARA Railway, a milestone project of China-Africa friendship, will gain new vitality and dynamism in the new era, Mao said. 

Under the vision of China and Africa jointly advancing modernization that is just and equitable, open and win-win and eco-friendly, puts the people first, features diversity and inclusiveness, and is underpinned by peace and security, the three countries agreed to forge the railway into a path to freedom, development, friendship, happiness, green development and harmony. The three sides will stay committed to the principles of mutual respect, equal-footed consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, advance the building of the TAZARA Railway prosperity belt, inject new impetus to socioeconomic development of Tanzania, Zambia and surrounding countries, and deliver more benefits to the local people, the spokesperson noted.

According to a statement China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) sent to the Global Times on Friday, CRCC and its subsidiary China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) will take the revitalization project as an opportunity to deliver high-quality construction, operation, and services. CRCC said it will actively align with the development strategies of Zambia and Tanzania, promote coordinated development of industries along the corridor such as mining, modern logistics and agricultural processing, and explore deeper cooperation in areas including new energy, water resources development, and green and low-carbon initiatives.

CRCC said in the statement that the revitalization project will follow the guiding principle of "revitalize first, develop later" and carry out a comprehensive, systematic upgrade. 

According to the company, it will replace all the sleepers along the entire line, lay 390 kilometers of new rail, repair bridges with hidden defects and strengthen power supply and communication systems, in order to fully restore the railway's freight and logistics capacity. 

The company will also retain and optimize existing passenger services and improve production and living facilities along the corridor. Moreover, it will establish a dedicated training center, and the project is expected to create more than 20,000 jobs, the statement said.

Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Friday that the TAZARA Railway is an iconic project embodying the deep friendship between China and Africa. 

"The launch of the revitalization project will inject fresh vitality into regional connectivity and economic cooperation across Africa, which will not only facilitate local transportation but also generate multiple effects from driving growth in imports and exports to promoting tourism exchanges, and beyond," Song noted.

Once revitalized, TAZARA Railway's annual freight capacity is expected to surge from around 200,000 tons to 2.4 million tons, while transit times along the corridor will be reduced by two-thirds. This will ensure the dividends of development reach thousands of households, driving the clustering of commerce, logistics, processing, agriculture, tourism, and other industries, while injecting vigorous new momentum into China-Africa cooperation, said the company in the statement.

Song noted that the project mirrors the close economic and trade ties between China and Africa. 

According to the Xinhua News Agency, trade with China continues to act as a stable anchor in Africa's trade structure. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $295.6 billion, setting a new record for the fourth consecutive year.

China also decided earlier this year to extend zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of tariff lines for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, Xinhua reported.

Song said that China's support for Africa has always adhered to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, while actively sharing the dividends of China's development with the continent. 

"China - through mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation — has continued to increase its support for Africa and has encouraged more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business there, which will help African countries address infrastructure shortcomings, enhance industrial capabilities, better integrate into the global value chain, and achieve common development and shared prosperity," Song noted.