The East African Community (EAC) has called for strengthened cooperation with China to benefit from a win-win situation.
Peter Mathuki, the EAC secretary general, said in an interview with Xinhua on Friday in Arusha that the regional bloc welcomes investors from China to implement various projects in the region of a combined population of about 300 million people.
Mathuki added that "I think we welcome investors from China to come and work with us in East Africa so that we can now develop this part of Africa for the good and prosperity of people but also for the prosperity of China."
He said China is a strategic partner of East Africa, adding that China and East Africa have a lot to work together to make sure their economies prosper from the cooperation.
Mathuki said China is one of the most progressive countries that have tried to partner in so many sectors with countries in East Africa, adding that China is largely supporting infrastructure programs in East African countries by grant or financing mechanisms or by technical assistance.
"The Belt and Road Initiative aims to ensure that as you develop infrastructure you also increase trade and secure trade routes in a more advanced way, and make countries very interdependent," said Mathuki.
He said this initiative is not only improving infrastructure in East Africa but also increasing the volume of trade.
EAC member states are Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service