YINCHUAN－The Ministry of Education recently approved a China-Morocco joint institute to be built by Northwest China's Ningxia University and Morocco's University of Hassan I.

Ningxia University said a group of delegates visited the University of Hassan I in Settat in November, and the two universities signed an agreement to establish a joint institute, focusing on Belt and Road Initiative studies, serving China-Morocco trade and cooperation, and enhancing cooperation in higher education between the two sides.

The two universities will hold international conferences, carry out cooperative research, and conduct scholarly visits, students exchanges, research by officials, and training.

The institute committee will be formed of both Chinese and Moroccan scholars.

Ningxia University in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region, set up Arabic language courses in 2002 and established an Arabic college in 2011.

Nearly 10 well-known universities from Arab countries have signed cooperation agreements with Ningxia University. More than 200 Chinese exchange students have been sent to universities in Morocco and Egypt.