Morocco's National School of Administration (ENA) and the China-Africa Institute have signed a cooperation agreement to establish a China-Africa Research Center in Rabat. The center aims to promote scientific research and the sharing of governance experience through basic and applied studies on topics of common interest. The agreement was signed by ENA Director Nada Biaz and China-Africa Institute President Ye Hailin.
The China-Africa Research Center is the first of its kind in North Africa and is expected to serve as a bridge to strengthen exchanges with other African research institutions. It will act as a coordination platform and promote joint research between China and African countries. The center's establishment is a concrete step in carrying out the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
The agreement builds on prior contacts between the two institutions, including a meeting on September 22, when a delegation from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), led by Ye Hailin, visited ENA in Rabat. The talks centered on expanding cooperation in training, scientific research, and the exchange of administrative expertise.
Under the convention, the two sides will organize executive training programs in China and Morocco for delegations of state civil servants, officials, and executives in fields listed among the center's priorities. The center will also advance cultural exchange and international communication on shared concerns, including modernization, state governance, and socio-economic development.
China's Ambassador to Morocco, Yu Jinsong, noted that the center's creation reflects the continuous enrichment of the strategic partnership between China and Morocco. The partnership was established on May 11, 2016, during King Mohammed VI's state visit to Beijing. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Morocco-China strategic partnership.
The China-Africa Institute was established in Beijing on April 9, 2019, under CASS, to strengthen academic exchanges and research cooperation between China and African countries. Its work spans joint research, scholar and think-tank exchanges, and training programs on governance and development.
ENA Director Nada Biaz described the signing as a shared commitment to build a lasting partnership grounded in mutual trust, complementary expertise, and knowledge sharing. She expressed hope that the initiative would become a reference for scientific and institutional cooperation between China, Morocco, and the African continent.
Key points
- The China-Africa Research Center is North Africa's first research center of its kind, aiming to promote scientific research and governance experience sharing between China and African countries.
- The center's establishment is a result of the strategic partnership between Morocco and China, which was established in 2016.
- The center will organize executive training programs and advance cultural exchange and international communication on shared concerns.
