There are extensive opportunities for collaboration between African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), in the fields of forest management, desertification combating, wetland protection, biodiversity conservation, wood chemistry, forest product processing and trade.
On 30 June 2023, Academician Felix Dapare Dakora, President of AAS, and Prof. Chu Fuxiang, President of CAF, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of both parties. Vice President of CAF, Prof. Cui Lijuan hosted the signing ceremony.
Prof. Chu Fuxiang extended a warm welcome to the AAS delegation. After a short introduction of CAF, Prof. Chu Fuxiang briefly reviewed the cooperation history between CAF and African countries in forestry, including South Africa, Rwanda and Uganda. He expressed his hope that both parties will carry out more practical cooperation within the framework of the MoU, to promote overall achievements of the collaboration.
Prof. Felix Dapare Dacol pointed out that the cooperation between AAS and CAF is very important; and there are significant opportunities for further collaboration in the fields of forest management, desertification control, wetland protection, biodiversity conservation, wood chemistry, forest product processing and trade, etc. He hopes that both parties will further deepen cooperation and carry out practical collaboration in the future.
The signing of MoU aims to promote the two parties to jointly carry out scientific research and technology research and development in natural ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, deserts, and grasslands, and promote the sustainable development of China and Africa.
During the ceremony, researchers from the CAF introduced their research teams, ongoing cooperation in Africa and proposed suggestions for future collaboration, namely Mr. Li Diqiang and Mr. Qian Fawen from Research Institute of Ecology Conservation and Restoration, Ms. Lei Yinru from the Institute of Wetland Research, Ms. Chen Jie from the Research Institute of Forestry Policy and Information, and Mr. Han Yanming from the Research Institute of Wood Industry.
After the ceremony, Prof. Felix Dapare Dacola and other delegates visited the Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Breeding of CAF.
AAS is a pan-African research institution involving all 55 member states of the African Union and covering all scientific fields. It is headquartered in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and is committed to promoting the high-level development of science and technology in Africa. The academy is the highest academic institution in Africa and has signed cooperation agreements with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Tsinghua University, Hebei University and Hebei Agricultural University. The current president of the AAS,Prof.Felix Dapare Dakola, was appointed as a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2019. He is the only African academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. AAS awards academician titles to outstanding scientists from Africa and other continents, and plays the role of a think tank in formulating regional science and technology innovation strategies and policies. Currently, 10 Chinese scientists have been awarded AAS academicians.
Source: http://www.caf.ac.cn/info/1221/49905.htm
