‘Nyerere Day in China’ held at Peking University
Oct 14, 2019
Peking University, October 14, 2019: As the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China-Tanzania diplomatic ties draws near, the Tanzanian Embassy to China and the Center for African Studies co-organized the “Nyerere Day in China” special event at Peking University on October 14 to commemorate the founding President of Tanzania, Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who passed away 20 years ago. Born in March 1922, Nyerere was the Prime Minister of the independent Tanganyika and later became the first President of Tanzania. As one of Africa's leading independence heroes, Nyerere was also the major driving force behind the founding of the Organization of African Unity (now African Union).
At the opening ceremony
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Wang Bo, executive vice president of Peking University, reminisced on the old days when the Center for African Studies was first set up at PKU. Meanwhile, he noted the development of both countries over the past few years and the significance of the event.
Wang Bo
Mr. Mbelwa Kairuki, Tanzanian ambassador to China, went through the life of Nyerere and exclaimed at the great man’s achievement. Given the considerable number of Nyerere’s accomplishments, Kairuki said it was difficult for him to summarize only in a few words, so he called for a heated, open discussion today.
Mbelwa Kairuki
Dr. Ng’wanza Kamata from Nyerere Resource Center gave a keynote speech under the theme of “Julius Nyerere—Politician, Humanist, Thinker”. Another keynote speech was delivered by Peking University Professor Zhao Baisheng, which focused on Nyerere and the Global South.
The opening ceremony was followed by symposiums where scholars and ambassadors from both Tanzania and China exchanged views on topics ranging from Nyerere and Pan-Africanism to China-Tanzania relations and South-South cooperation.
Despite his death, Nyerere’s spirit continues to influence the world through the extensiveness of his legacies. Twenty years after Tanzania people wept and mourned for the loss of a great man, the event was held to commemorate the deceased president, celebrate the outcome of China-Tanzania friendship and to envisage the possibility of bilateral cooperation.
Group photo
Reported by: Qiu Kanghua
Edited by: Huang Weijian
