The University of Dodoma (UDOM) in central Tanzania is set to offer a Bachelors Degree in Chinese language that authorities said on Thursday will help strengthen relations between Tanzania and China.
Prof Jonathan Kabigumila, UDOM Principal of the College of Education, said all preparations have so far been completed, including enrolling prospective candidates for the course.
"We anticipate that the course will cement our long-standing friendship with China as it will also open doors for Tanzanians doing businesses with the Chinese," he said.
Kabigumila was speaking during a special Chinese event called "Confucius Institutes Tour 2015" which was organized by the Chinese Confucius Institutes.
Chiku Galawa, the Dodoma Regional Commissioner, hailed the Confucius Institutes for its efforts to inject positive cultural knowledge at the university saying the move will spur many achievements.
"Tanzanian friendship with China can be dated as far back as in the early 1960s and Tanzania has since then benefited much in different spheres of life, ranging from economic to social life," she said.
Galawa underscored the need for UDOM students to learn from the Chinese who she said were hardworking people.
Tanzania is one of China's largest aid recipient countries in Africa and since 1964 it has provided various kinds of assistance to Tanzania.
The total trade volume between China and Tanzania has exceeded 2 billion U.S. dollars.
