The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Nairobi-based African Academy of Sciences (AAS) to boost cooperation.

Bai Chunli, president of CAS, hailed the signing of an MOU with the pan-African science body that is geared towards promoting collaborative research, skills development and technology transfer.

"CAS highly values our relationship with Africa. The signing of the MOU is a milestone for the partnership between our academy and Africa. In the future, our academy wishes to work closely with AAS," said Bai.

He said that AAS application to become a member of the Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) that was initiated by CAS, will be discussed and decided at the ANSO Governing Board Meeting to be held in November in Beijing.

"CAS fully supports AAS to be a member," said Bai at the signing ceremony for the new cooperative framework with the AAS.

He said that Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre (SAJOREC), based at Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) , has provided CAS with a platform to expand its footprint in the world's second-largest continent.

Bai said that Sino-Africa scientific collaboration has focused on areas that are key to advance sustainable development in the continent such as food and water security, public health, biodiversity and wildlife conservation.

He said that advanced training for the next generation of African scientists has been an integral component of collaboration between Chinese and African science academies.

Felix Dapare Dakora, president of AAS said the signing of an MOU with CAS will enable both institutions to harness their competitive edge in research and innovations to promote economic growth and social renewal.

"We hope that this MOU we are about to sign will go a long way in helping Africa to build synergies with China towards advancing science technology and innovation in Africa," said Dakora.

He said that Africa is keen to leverage on robust scientific collaboration with China to achieve the continent's long-term socio-economic transformation agenda. (Xinhua)