Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete have exchanged messages of congratulations to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Xi said China and Tanzania, which are all weather friends, have maintained unbreakable traditional friendship.

Since the establishment of bilateral ties 50 years ago, both sides have always respected, trusted and supported each other, and have achieved fruitful results in cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, health care, culture, education, and military affairs, Xi said.

The China-Tanzania friendship has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples, he said.

Xi said he paid a successful state visit to Tanzania and held brotherly talks with Kikwete in March last year, and the two sides reached important consensus on building and developing a comprehensive partnership based on mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

The Chinese president said he pays high attention to advancing the ties between the two countries.

He said he would like to take the advantage of the jubilee celebration to make joint efforts with Kikwete to upgrade the bilateral ties to a higher level from a new historical starting point.

Calling the diplomatic relations between China and Tanzania unique, Kikwete said, "Our countries have demonstrated that it is possible to be 'all weather friends' as you say. Suffice it to say that we have worked closely together in mutual trust at bilateral and multilateral levels."

He said President Xi's historic visit to Tanzania last year as the first African country to visit after assuming office and his own expected visit to China in October are bold statements depicting "the strong and profound diplomatic relations existing between our countries."

"I also wish to seize this opportunity to reiterate my government's desire and commitment to further strengthen the traditional bonds of friendship and cooperation that exists between our two countries for the mutual benefit of our people," he said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also exchanged congratulatory messages with his Tanzanian counterpart Bernard Membe on the occasion.

China established diplomatic relations with Tanzania on April 26, 1964.

(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2014)