China serves as "important pillar of strength" to world: Tanzanian statesman

China has been a long-term friend to the African and developing countries and played a constructive role in establishing a better world order and promoting justice of international system, a respected Tanzanian statesman said on Monday.

In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Salim Ahmed Salim, former Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), termed China as the "important pillar of strength" to stabilize the world order and make important contributions to the world peace.

As for the long-term good relations between the African countries and China, Salim said that the Chinese government established relations with African countries based on fundamental principles of mutual respect, self-independence and territorial integrity among others.

The Chinese government provided many assistance and support to African countries, for an example, the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway in 1960s, which supported not only Tanzania and Zambia, but also the struggle of national liberation movement at that time in the whole African continent, the 67-year-old Salim noted.

The experienced politician also downplayed the voice of "Chinese threat" from some western countries, saying that "on the contrary, China has been making contributions to stabilize the world order".

On the China-Africa cooperation, Salim said that China was in Africa not from now, but already there when Africa were in need of help, refusing the report on China's rushing for resources in Africa.

Salim, who is also AU special Envoy for Darfur, commended China for its efforts to bring peace to Sudan's western region of Darfur and contribution to the unity of Africa.

On the effects of the current on-going economic crisis, Salim said the world are undergoing "difficult times " and suffering from the financial crisis, which first started from the United States and then developed into international crisis.

"It's time for rich countries and poor countries to cooperate closely to bring the economy to normalcy," he added, underscoring China's importance in stabilizing the world economy.

The high-spirited statesman also recalled his life as Tanzania's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China in 1969 and Tanzania's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York in 1970.

He elaborated how China's lawful seat in the United Nations was restored in 1971 as many African and Asian nations struggled to support China and exerted responsibility as there is only one China.

"China is back in the UN," many representatives who witnessed the event in the UN applauded when the resolution was adopted, while Salim himself couldn't help performing a dance to rejoice.

"The year of 1971 was a year of momentum, and there was an atmosphere of relief," he added, noting that China has been actively involved in the UN and other international affairs since then.

At the end of the interview, Salim expressed his congratulations to the Chinese people on the upcoming 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, lauding the political, economic and technological advancement in China in the past nearly 60 years.

"China today is a powerful country and also a modest country. We, the third-world, consider China's strength is our strength," the Tanzanian statesman concluded, expecting China continues to achieve growth and progress in various fields.