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BEIJING. — The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Julius Nyerere Leadership School was held yesterday in Tanzania, with the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee President Xi Jinping senting his congratulatory message, according to a Xinhua report.

The late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere was not only Tanzania’s founding president, but he was also one of the founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union that speareheaded the fight for liberation of colonised countries across the continent.

In a congratulatory message, President Xi said that on the occasion of the groundbreaking ceremony of the Julius Nyerere Leadership School, co-founded by the revolutionary movements Chama Cha Mapinduzi of Tanzania, the African National Congress of South Africa, Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), SWAPO party of Namibia and the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF), he extended his warm congratulations on behalf of the CPC as well as in his own behalf.

President Xi said that the six parties in southern Africa are the important forces to lead the national liberation and economic construction in their respective countries.

Jointly building the Julius Nyerere Leadership School is an important move for the six parties to strengthen their self-construction and improve their governing capacity and will play an active role in promoting the development and progress of their respective countries, President Xi said.

For a long time, President Xi added, the CPC has maintained a traditional friendship with the six parties, which has played an important and strategic guiding role for the development of China’s bilateral ties with the six countries, respectively.

The CPC is willing to take the opportunity to enhance exchanges with political parties in Africa including the six parties and learn from each other, so as to jointly promote the construction of a closer community with a shared future for China and Africa and make contributions to advancing the lofty cause of peace and development for mankind, President Xi said.

According to the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation website, the late Mwalimu Nyerere exhibited a number of enviable qualities, namely: being a diligent worker; great thinker; professional teacher and writer; advocacy for change and justice; nation building; provision of free universal primary education; international peace and security, and others.

According to the site, “As Mwalimu passed the seals of office to his successor, Tanzania had achieved an international reputation as a united and peaceful country, proud of its sovereign independence and supportive of the principles of human equality, human dignity and freedom for individuals and nations within the context of their equal rights and responsibilities as members of the international community.

“During the 24 years of his rule, Tanzanians had scored tremendous successes, so that it is not easy to list all of his achievements”. – Xinhua/Herald Reporter/nyererefoundation.org