Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday extended condolences to the new Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan over the passing of the African country's former President John Magufuli on March 17.

Hailing Magufuli as an outstanding leader of Tanzania, Xi said that the former president made positive contributions to promoting friendly cooperation between China and Tanzania and between China and Africa during his lifetime.

His passing away is a great loss to the Tanzanian people and the Chinese people have also lost a good friend, Xi said.

China cherishes its profound traditional friendship with Tanzania and is ready to work with Tanzania to deepen the comprehensive cooperation partnership for the benefit of the two countries and the two peoples, he added.