China and Madagascar strengthened their cooperation in Geosciences, as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Wednesday among the University of Antananarivo, Beijing-based China University of Geosciences (CUG) and China Geological Survey.

"This governmental cooperation will bring economic development to Madagascar and will strengthen relationships between the two countries," CUB vice president Xie Xuewen, who led a four-member delegation for a three-day mission in Madagascar, said in his speech during the signing ceremony.

Antananarivo University president Panja Ramanoelina said that this cooperation will provide to Malagasy teachers and students the opportunity to develop a geological map and strengthen exchanges with Chinese professors and students.

The Dean of Faculty of Science under the Antananarivo University, Marson Raherimandimby, explained that this five-year cooperation is important for his department because CUG and China Geological Survey undertook to transfer their competence in geosciences to Malagasy students to help them become experts in geosciences.

"As we suffer on lack of materials, Malagasy students from the Antananarivo University will go soon to continue their study in China especially Madagascar is rich in mining resources but poor of experts in geosciences," Raherimandimby added.

The signing ceremony was followed by the inauguration of Antananarivo university geology House and attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Madagascar Yang Min as well as a representative from the ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Professor Andry Rakotomahevitra.