郭佳：坦赞铁路繁荣带建设启动中非高质量合作

Core Viewpoint - The activation of the TAZARA railway project marks a new mission for the railway, enhancing regional economic cooperation and development in Africa, and serves as a new engine for high-quality Sino-African cooperation [1][5]. Group 1: Project Overview - The TAZARA railway prosperity belt is a comprehensive regional development strategy centered around the railway, aiming to enhance logistics efficiency and create a broader economic prosperity circle [1][2]. - The project aims to address the bottleneck of mineral exports from Africa's inland resource areas by upgrading the TAZARA railway, significantly reducing transportation costs and time [2]. Group 2: Economic Impact - The upgraded TAZARA railway is expected to increase its capacity by 12 times and reduce transportation time by two-thirds, with logistics costs in key areas like Zambia's Copperbelt province decreasing by 30% to 40% compared to road transport [2]. - The establishment of logistics advantages will facilitate a transition from a "corridor economy" to a "corridor economy," fostering sustainable industrial innovation and competitiveness [2][3]. Group 3: Industrial Development - The project will focus on value chain enhancement, particularly in the copper processing sector in Zambia, converting primary products into high-value materials and retaining resource benefits locally [3]. - The diversification of industries, including modern agriculture and tourism, will be developed alongside the railway, creating opportunities for small and medium enterprises and improving local livelihoods [3]. Group 4: Cooperation Model - The project adopts a "Build-Operate-Transfer" (BOT) model, granting Chinese companies a 30-year concession for railway operation, ensuring sustainable funding through operational revenues [4]. - The project emphasizes technology transfer and capacity building, aiming to cultivate local railway professionals in Tanzania and Zambia, ensuring sustainable management post-concession [4]. Group 5: Strategic Significance - The TAZARA railway prosperity belt is a key driver of African continental integration, effectively connecting the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) [3]. - The project exemplifies a sustainable win-win cooperation model, integrating China's economic globalization initiatives with Africa's development blueprint, and serves as a successful case for the Belt and Road Initiative [5].