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Jevans Nyabiage

China has paid tribute to a Chinese doctor in Tanzania who died saving a woman in distress in the sea, saying his heroism exemplified the deep China-Africa friendship and the dedication of Chinese medical teams.
Zhang Junqiao, a 38-year-old anaesthesiologist working in Tanzania as part of a Chinese medical team, went to the aid of the drowning Tanzanian woman off Dar es Salaam on June 15. Images from the scene showed Zhang keeping her afloat while helping her into a life jacket moments before he went under the waves.
Zhang died despite his colleagues’ efforts to rescue him.
On Tuesday, China’s foreign ministry hailed Zhang’s actions as an embodiment of China-Africa ties and the “dedication, commitment, love and fighting spirit of Chinese medical teams”.

Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun expressed his deep condolences to Zhang’s family.
“Our thoughts are with Zhang Junqiao’s family, and it is absolutely painful to lose a dear and stellar member of Chinese medical teams in Africa,” he said.
On June 20, hundreds of Chinese and Tanzanian officials, medical staff and local community members gathered in silence at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam to bid farewell to Zhang.
Zhang, who was from Shandong province in eastern China, led what was China’s 27th medical aid team into Tanzania early last year. He had been stationed at the hospital, Tanzania’s top referral facility, where he provided anaesthesia services and trained local doctors and nurses.
Beyond his hospital duties, Zhang volunteered in local communities, including spearheading outreach clinics in remote areas of Tanzania.


In a video shot in May last year and shared by a friend on social media, Zhang said it was his duty and a lifetime calling to be a doctor and save lives, be the patient young or old, Chinese or foreign.
“This is where my conscience lies and what I do. Everything else is secondary,” he said.
Zhang’s last social media post said: “Serving the people knows no borders. As a Chinese doctor, I am proud to let my Tanzanian colleagues feel the strength of our country and our profession.”
According to Guo, China sent its first medical team to Africa 62 years ago, with deputations to Tanzania starting almost 58 years ago. He said the teams made valuable contributions to saving lives, training local professionals and fostering invaluable bilateral ties with African countries.
“The caring and highly skilled members of Chinese medical teams have treated and saved many local people, and trained medical teams of their own,” Guo said, adding that their work had contributed much to the China-Africa friendship.
“The people of China and Africa will never forget. History will not forget,” he said.

Guo Haiyan, the Chinese ambassador to Kenya, expressed “grave sadness” over Zhang’s death.
“I also feel full of respect, to the brave behaviour of Zhang Junqiao, and to the deep-rooted China-Africa friendship. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, more than 50 medical experts from China have sacrificed themselves for African healthcare,” Guo said in a social media post.
Tanzania’s health ministry said the death of Zhang was “a profound loss, not only to the medical community but also to the countless lives he touched with compassion, professionalism and unwavering commitment to patient care”.


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China-Africa relations

China honours aid doctor Zhang Junqiao who died saving drowning woman in Tanzania

Zhang Junqiao is pictured while offering free medical consultations on Pemba Island, Tanzania, in December 2024. Photo: Xinhua

Zhang Junqiao with local medical students at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in May. Photo: Xinhua

Zhang Junqiao is pictured in surgery at Muhimbili National Hospital in March. Photo: Xinhua

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China

Diplomacy

Foreign ministry in Beijing says Zhang Junqiao’s commitment and bravery embodied the spirit of Chinese medical teams in Africa


Foreign ministry in Beijing says Zhang Junqiao’s commitment and bravery embodied the spirit of Chinese medical teams in Africa.


China honours aid doctor Zhang Junqiao who died saving drowning woman in Tanzania

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Foreign ministry in Beijing says Zhang Junqiao’s commitment and bravery embodied the spirit of Chinese medical teams in Africa

Foreign ministry in Beijing says Zhang Junqiao’s commitment and bravery embodied the spirit of Chinese medical teams in Africa