"It is my hope that we will broaden this venture to other institutions of higher learning by facilitating world-class institutional twinning to develop the ecosystem necessary to foster cutting-edge research and innovations that will go through the full cycle to commercialization," she said.

"The exchange between scholars from our two countries will strengthen our bilateral and economic relations and position our institutions as global centres of innovation and entrepreneurship. In turn, we will create the capacity to drive the attainment of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025 (CESA 16-25), Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda,” she added

CAS president Bai Chunli said his institution attaches great importance to scientific cooperation within the international community, and highly values its relationship with Kenya and Africa.

Over the past five years, Bai says SAJOREC has served as an outreach of CAS in Africa to develop partnerships and projects with around 20 academic institutions in Kenya and other African countries.

"Through this channel, we have provided 122 scholarships to qualified African students to study for masters or PhD degrees in China. In the next three years, SAJOREC will provide 150 new scholarships to students from Africa," he said.

Bai said future projects to be developed under the SAJOREC framework include the joint development of research and development centres for modern agriculture and traditional medicine, and a ground-based satellite data receiving station. This is in addition to the development of an East Africa water tower project to address food, health, drought, and water security issues.

"In order to maximize the potential value of SAJOREC as an open international centre of excellence for scientific collaborations with Africa, we think it's necessary to set up a joint advisory board between CAS and MOEST," he said.

Bai said such a move will guide the future development of SAJOREC, as well as ensure that it continues in the right direction to produce maximum benefit.