Zanzibar President, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, is expected to meet Serbian investors as Tanzania seeks to broaden commercial partnerships and attract investment in line with its economic diplomacy agenda.
Dr Hussein Mwinyi is in Belgrade, Serbia, to represent President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the 65th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
The commemorative meeting is taking shape in Belgrade, Serbia, attracting heads of state, government representatives and delegations from NAM member countries.
The two-day meeting, which is being held at the Palace of Serbia, has been tailored to provide a crucial platform for attendees to reflect on the Movement’s history, its contribution to international affairs and the continued relevance of its principles in today’s changing political, economic and security landscape.
Tanzania is expected to present its national statement during the meeting, reaffirming the country’s longstanding commitment to the ideals of independence, self-determination, equality, peace and international cooperation that have shaped the Movement since its inception.
The anniversary holds particular significance for Tanzania, whose founding President, the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, was among the influential leaders who helped shape NAM’s vision during its formative years.
Under his leadership, the country became a leading voice in support of African liberation, South-South cooperation and the principle that developing nations should pursue independent foreign policies free from alignment with rival global power blocs.
The first NAM Conference was held in Belgrade in 1961, bringing together newly independent countries seeking a stronger collective voice in international affairs during a period of deep Cold War divisions.
Sixty-five years later, member states have returned to the Serbian capital to assess how those founding principles continue to respond to contemporary global challenges.
On the sidelines of the commemorations, Dr Mwinyi is expected to hold bilateral talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, during which he will deliver a message from President Dr Samia.
The discussions are expected to focus on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, tourism and the Blue Economy, while exploring other areas of mutual interest between the two countries.
The visit also reflects the longstanding friendship between Tanzania and Serbia, whose ties trace back to relations with the former Yugoslavia during the early years of the Non-Aligned Movement.
That relationship, built on the principles of sovereignty, equality and mutual respect, continues to provide a foundation for closer economic and diplomatic cooperation.
Dr Mwinyi is accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Dr Mahmoud Thabit Kombo; Tanzania’s Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mussa Haji Ali; and other senior officials from the ministry responsible for multilateral cooperation, economic diplomacy and government communication.