DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on Friday expressed heartfelt thanks to China for the support and assistance to the east African country.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete (R) shakes hands with visiting Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming during their meeting in Dar Es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, Jan. 15, 2010. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete on Friday expressed heartfelt thanks to China for the support and assistance to the east African country. (Xinhua/Guo Chunju) Photo Gallery>>>

    Kikwete made the remarks during his meeting with visiting Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, noting that his country has benefited a lot for the cooperation with China as both sides have long-term friendly relationships.

    The Tanzanian president noted that China's economy is developing at a high speed with a huge market, while Tanzania expects to further expand the trade to China and also welcomes Chinese companies to invest in the country.

    He specified transportation and energy, agricultural finance, building construction and telecommunications as various sectors for both sides to strengthen cooperation.

    For his part, Chen said that China and Tanzania has established deep and traditional friendship with bilateral economic and trade cooperation developing rapidly in recent years.

    "The bilateral trade volume has increased by nearly four times in the past five years and the total Chinese direct investments in the east African country exceeded 200 million U.S. dollars," the Chinese commerce minister said.

    He expressed China's intention to cooperate with Tanzanian closely and implement the agreement reached during Chinese President Hu Jintao last year's visit to Tanzania and the fourth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Nov. 8 to 9 to expand bilateral trade and investment, as well as people exchange and training to continue support Tanzania's economic development and social progress.

    After the meeting, the two sides signed two economic and technical cooperation agreements and two preferential loan framework agreements with the witness of Kikwete.

    Earlier on the day, Tanzanian Prime Minister Minzengo Pinda also met with Chen to tackle on bilateral friendly relations, economic and trade relations, expecting to strengthen cooperation on sectors of agricultural production, agricultural finance, power supply, port and railway infrastructure projects.

Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming (R) and Tanzanian Minister of Industry and Trade Mary Nagu (L) attend the ceremony for official commencement of the construction of the China-aided Tanzania Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar Es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, Jan. 15, 2010. (Xinhua/Guo Chunju) Photo Gallery>>>

    Chen and Tanzanian Minister of Industry and Trade Mary Nagu, among others, also were present at the ceremony for official commencement of the construction of the China-aided Tanzania Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre.

    Chen arrived in Tanzanian on Thursday evening for a three-day visit after his trip to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia and Mozambique.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete (R) meets with visiting Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming (L) in Dar Es Salaam, capital of Tanzania, Jan. 15, 2010. (Xinhua/Guo Chunju) Photo Gallery>>>