BEIJING – Cyprus and China signed an agreement on the mutual recognition of university titles, it was announced during a major forum in the Chinese capital on May 14.

Education Minister Costas Kadis and the Education Minister of the People’s Republic of China Chen Baosheng signed the deal, the Cyprus Mail said.

Kadis travelled to China to represent Cyprus in the “One Belt, One Road” International Summit where he reassured his Chinese counterpart of the firm and strong support of Cyprus towards the One China policy, leaving out Taiwan.

“The agreement is the catalyst for strengthening the co-operation in the field of higher education between the two countries,” Kadis said after the signing ceremony.

He added that his ministry has set as its priority to strengthen the educational ties between Cyprus and China and the deal was a symbol of the two countries’ joint efforts to further enhance their relations in the field of education.

He added that the agreement will turn Cyprus into a regional education and research centre and will attract even more foreign students.

Based on the agreement, the academic degrees awarded by Cypriot universities, will be automatically recognized by China at an academic and professional level, while at the same time Cyprus will recognize Chinese university degrees.