Basketball tournament for Chinese teams starts in Dar

The Chinese government has promised its continued friendship with Tanzania in the sports sector to ensure that the country excels in major international assignments.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday at the opening of a seven-day  basketball tournament for Chinese teams which are  based in Dar es Salaam at the National Indoor Stadium, Lin Zhiyong, who is the  Chinese Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Representative in the country, said  Tanzania and China have a bilateral cooperation in all sectors including
sports.

“We are ready to continue and support Tanzania by giving technical and material supports to develop sports sector in the country. We, China and Tanzania, have been brothers and sisters for a half century and we hope that we will continue giving our support and exchange programmes,” he said.

“The recent Chinese tour of President Jakaya Kikwete, symbolizes our friendship, economic and other sectors. Even the Chinese training base organised in Beijing for the Tanzania bound team to the recent ended Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is another example of our commitments and friendship,” he said.

He further said his country is ready to assist Tanzania in other forthcoming events like Olympic should the Tanzanian government ask for the Chinese support.

The basketball tournament, which features small scale businessmen and women and contractors, from among other sectors, aimed at marking 50 years of Tanzania and China friendship.

 Zhang Rongliang, who is the chief of Chinese Contractors Association, said that the friendship between the two countries spearheads developments in economic, social and sports sectors.

“Basketball is one of the Chinese favourites sporting events. We have therefore decided to show our great love to Tanzania through the tournament,” he said.

The opening match saw CWYC beating CRBC by 57-35 points in a thrilling match with Zhao Shuai scoring 23 points to engineer for the victory.