President Jakaya Kikwete yesterday said the African continent is generally safe despite the outbreak of the deadly Ebola disease that has ravaged three countries in West Africa.
According to a statement released by the directorate of presidential communications, the Head of State who was addressing diplomats in Beijing, China, asked them to relay the message to their countries that apart from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone where the viral disease has so far claimed more than 4,000 lives, the rest of the continent was safe for visitors from all over the world.
In his address to the ambassadors, President Kikwete who arrived in China on Tuesday for a six-day state visit on the invitation of his counterpart Mr Xi Jinping, dwelt on the political situation on the continent, economic condition and issues of security, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Libya, South Sudan and Somalia. He also briefed the diplomats on terrorist threats and organized terror groups.
“But what is of major concern now is the Ebola disease. Africa is now being isolated because of the outbreak; people cancel trips, the number of tourists is plummeting. For us, Ebola is a threat to human life but it is also a big threat to the economy,” he said and added:
“Now that the Ebola scare is hastening the isolation of Africa, it is the duty of you our representatives, our ambassadors, to spread the positive news about the bigger part of the continent which is safe.”
Calling on the rest of the world to join forces in the fight against the killer disease, President Kikwete told his audience that Tanzania has already made a contribution by deploying five medics to add to the international team currently battling the disease in West Africa.
In another meeting with heads of China Development Bank and China-Africa Development Fund, President Kikwete and the executives discussed how the institutions can cooperate with and support Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB) and Tanzania Agricultural Bank.
According to a statement released by the directorate of presidential communications, the Head of State who was addressing diplomats in Beijing, China, asked them to relay the message to their countries that apart from Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone where the viral disease has so far claimed more than 4,000 lives, the rest of the continent was safe for visitors from all over the world.
In his address to the ambassadors, President Kikwete who arrived in China on Tuesday for a six-day state visit on the invitation of his counterpart Mr Xi Jinping, dwelt on the political situation on the continent, economic condition and issues of security, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Libya, South Sudan and Somalia. He also briefed the diplomats on terrorist threats and organized terror groups.
“But what is of major concern now is the Ebola disease. Africa is now being isolated because of the outbreak; people cancel trips, the number of tourists is plummeting. For us, Ebola is a threat to human life but it is also a big threat to the economy,” he said and added:
“Now that the Ebola scare is hastening the isolation of Africa, it is the duty of you our representatives, our ambassadors, to spread the positive news about the bigger part of the continent which is safe.”
Calling on the rest of the world to join forces in the fight against the killer disease, President Kikwete told his audience that Tanzania has already made a contribution by deploying five medics to add to the international team currently battling the disease in West Africa.
In another meeting with heads of China Development Bank and China-Africa Development Fund, President Kikwete and the executives discussed how the institutions can cooperate with and support Tanzania Investment Bank (TIB) and Tanzania Agricultural Bank.
0 comments:
Post a Comment