Egypt: 5 MOUs Signed with China In Scientific and Educational Areas

PM Sherif Ismail witnessed the signing ceremony of five MOUs with the Chinese side in scientific and educational areas, in the presence of Ms. 'Liu Jan Dong, the vice chairman of the Chinese Prime Minister. The signing from the Egyptian side was Dr. Ashraf al-Shehhi, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and from the Chinese side both Dr. Hao Ping, deputy minister of education and Dr. Wan Jang, the minister of science and technology.

Ambassador Hussam Al Kawesh, the official spokesman of the cabinet of Ministers said that the signing of these notes comes within the framework of supporting and strengthening the cooperation between the two friendly countries in all areas, in particular in the area of education and scientific research and the exchange of experiences, and it comes in implementation of what was agreed upon during the mutual visits of the heads of state of the two countries during the previous period.

The MOU mentions the establishment of an exchange program of scholarships between Egyptian - Chinese with a view of deepening the relations between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the People's Republic of China in the field of higher education, where the Chinese side will provide a number of 100 grants per year starting from 2016 until 2020 with a total number of grants 500 grants.

The MOU is based on the cooperation between the Egyptian National Committee of UNESCO and the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO aimed at strengthening the cooperation and the development of constructive partnership in the topics of common interest with a view on building the capacity of teachers and administrators educators in the framework of the programs of the current cooperation with UNESCO.

It is mentioned that the cooperation between the national commissions between Egypt and China includes facilitating the conditions of the Great Wall of China grant to support the educational possibilities of world heritage and organizing activities covering the areas of the protection of the world cultural.

Ambassador Al Kawesh said that the MOU also includes the establishment of a program of co-financing in the field of science and technology in order to support the activities of cooperation between Egyptian-Chinese researchers through projects of innovative and technological research with the submission of the agreed timetable with a funding through the allocation of about $10 million (65 million yuan) from the Chinese side, as well as about 10 million dollars (85 million pounds) from the Egyptian side for the implementation of the program for 5-years.

The MOU included signed a memorandum on cooperation in the cities of science 'science parks' with the aim of raising competitiveness of firms in the two countries through promoting innovation based on science and technology and the exchange of visits of staff and experts in the management of the cities of science to acquire knowledge and experience as well as to organize forums, seminars and establish projects and research cooperation with a joint working groups to put a plan for the implementation of cooperation activities.

In the field of education the MOU aims to strengthen cooperation in the field of higher education through the exchange of students and teaching staff to attend a scientific symposia and share research results and educational delegations. The holding of an annual forum of heads of the Egyptian-Chinese universities as well as to support the development of Confucius institutes in Egypt and to encourage the teaching of the language and culture of the other party.