DAR ES SALAAM, March 6 -- The Chinese government has agreed to train 30 Tanzanian athletes who will represent Tanzania to the Commonwealth Games in July this year, Tanzanian foreign ministry said on Thursday.

China is among a few countries in the world that perform well during international athletics competitions, including the Olympic Games.

A statement issued Thursday by Tanzania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Tanzania and China have also agreed to continue strengthening the economic and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries that has been in place for the past 50 years.

The agreement was made in Beijing during talks between Tanzania' s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Bernard Membe and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during Membe's five-day official visit to China.

The statement said Wang promised that the Chinese government will continue assisting Tanzania and its people in development of economic projects.

Membe said China was Tanzania's best friend, adding that in marking 50 years of friendship, the two countries have agreed to cement their friendship for the benefit of people in the two countries, said the statement.

Apart from assisting Tanzania in the provision of social services such as water, education and health, China has also been undertaking major construction projects in Tanzania.

The projects include the construction of the Julius Nyerere International Conference Center in Dar es Salaam, the construction of an agricultural research center at Ifakara, the construction of the 513-km Mtwara-Dar es Salaam gas pipeline and the rehabilitation of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway.

During his visit, Membe held talks with Chinese government senior officials aimed at strengthening the two countries bilateral relations.