The UAE and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation in the field of higher education, as well as a number of agreements in a number of areas, on Monday, December 14th, 2015, in Beijing. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Li Yuanchao, the Chinese Vice President, witnessed the signing ceremony. The MOU was signed by Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, from the UAE side, and Du Yubo, Vice Minister of Education in China, from China side. The MOU aims to promote cooperation in the fields of science, and ensures the quality of education between higher education institutions and scientific research centers in both countries, and it stipulates that the two parties exchange university scholarships annually, and the two sides shall agree through official channels on their numbers and areas of study, as well as the exchange of experiences, publications and periodicals on higher education. It also stipulates that the two parties shall encourage visits between higher education officials, faculty and researchers to promote bilateral cooperation in all areas of common interest. An agreement was also signed between "Masdar Institute" and "Tsinghua University", with the aim exchanging faculty members and doctoral students for the purposes of strengthening the academic and research cooperation between the two parties. A protocol cooperation agreement in the field of diplomatic training and exchange of information and documents between Emirates Diplomatic Academy and the China Foreign Affairs University was also signed, in order to exchange lecturers and students to participate in seminars and events related to the areas of mutual interest, especially those relating to the areas of training, as well as information on activities for both parties on a regular basis, the use of best practices, and organizing panel discussions, seminars and other similar activities. In the field of space research and development and the peaceful use of outer space, an MOU was also signed to encourage and promote cooperation and exchange in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes on the basis of mutual benefit, including cooperation in research and development specified for scientific experiments, remote sensing, communications, launch and follow-up services, and satellite control, including the operation and management in orbit, the use of ground satellite systems, dealing with the materials in space, the atmospheric science, radio astronomy, astrophysics, and zero gravity tests. Several other agreements in the field of standards, metrology and conformity assessment, the exchange of currency between the Central Bank and the People's Bank of China, the establishment of the clearing center for the Chinese currency, the area of archiving, the field of energy, and the exchange of driving licenses were also signed.
16/12/2015