Last updated on April 27th, 2022 at 12:11 am
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa covering President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. government, UN, IMF, World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington and New York.
United States Vice President Kamala D. Harris met on Friday with President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania in Washington, and underscored that the Biden administration “is committed to strengthening ties with Tanzania and with countries across Africa, based on the principles of mutual respect and equality.”
“The Vice President welcomed President Hassan’s efforts to strengthen democracy and human rights in Tanzania. They reviewed a number of areas of cooperation in our bilateral relationship, including health, agriculture, and infrastructure,” the White House said in a statement.
It added, “The Vice President underscored the importance of our economic and commercial partnership, and discussed recent reforms and others needed to further strengthen our investment relationship. The two leaders noted they are looking forward to the entry into force of an Open Skies Air Transport Agreement, which establishes a modern civil aviation relationship between the United States and Tanzania and agreed it will promote increased travel and trade and help spur economic growth. They also welcomed nearly $1 billion of new investments by U.S. companies in Tanzania in tourism, conservation, and clean energy sectors.
“The Vice President discussed our efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, including through Tanzania’s participation in the U.S.-led Global VAX Initiative, and our donation of nearly 4.9 million vaccine doses provided to Tanzania since the beginning of the pandemic. They discussed broader global health security and global health issues, including supporting women and children’s health.
“Lastly, they discussed several regional and global issues of concern. The Vice President emphasized the importance of the world standing together in support of international rules and norms, including the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations. The Vice President condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its ongoing brutal attacks against the people of Ukraine and noted there must be severe costs for Russia’s actions,” added the White House.
A senior administration official said on Thursday that, “In their bilateral meeting, they will discuss strengthening democracy in Tanzania, expanding our economic and commercial partnership, partnering on global health security and global health issues, and other regional and global issues of concern,” the senior administration official said. “The United States and Tanzania have an important partnership, and the Vice President looks forward to reviewing the progress made in Tanzania and the work underway to continue that progress.”
According to the official, “This meeting further demonstrates the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to strengthening ties with Tanzania and with countries across Africa based on the principles of mutual respect and equality.”
In September 2021, the Vice President met with President Akufo-Addo of Ghana and President Hichilema of Zambia. Earlier this month, President Biden spoke with President Ramaphosa of South Africa.
Remarks by Vice President Harris and President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania Before Bilateral Meeting
APRIL 15, 2022
