Cairo: Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk witnessed the signing of a joint cooperation protocol between the Desert Research Center, the Chinese Botanical Garden, and the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The agreement aims to enhance scientific and research collaboration and facilitate the exchange of expertise.
According to State Information Service Egypt, this protocol comes within the framework of deepening the strategic partnership between Egypt and China in support of applied scientific research and sustainable development. It aims at promoting the exchange of applied research expertise in areas such as sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation. The protocol seeks to activate cooperation through the development of exchange programs, visits by scientists, researchers, and postdoctoral scholars, the training of postgraduate students, and the organization of joint conferences and workshops.
It also seeks to benefit from funding available through China’s Belt and Road Initiative to finance research projects of mutual interest. Under the protocol, joint cooperation will also extend to areas such as the sustainability of natural resources, applications of remote sensing, and the optimal use of such technologies in light of global climate change. This collaboration is expected to contribute to agricultural development in fragile environments.
The agriculture minister emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration between the Desert Research Center and the China-Africa Joint Research Center, noting that it marks a pivotal step in supporting and advancing the research process and opens new horizons for researchers and postgraduate students to enhance the capabilities of Egyptian and African research cadres in vital areas. Farouk said the partnership places a strong focus on developing and training human capital in fields such as the conservation of natural resources, advancement of water treatment technologies, and the use of remote sensing applications, all of which directly support sustainable development plans and help address environmental challenges.
The benefits of this agreement go beyond the research domain, as it also serves as a genuine bridge for transferring advanced Chinese agricultural technologies to Egypt, particularly those designed to tackle climate change and water scarcity challenges, he added.