China-Asia-Africa Cooperation Center launched in Beijing

China on Wednesday opened an academic institute in Beijing that will focus on its relations with other parts of Asia and Africa.

The China-Asia-Africa Cooperation Center, proposed by President Xi Jinping at the Asian-African Summit in Indonesia in April, will organize exchanges with foreign academic institutions and hold seminars on regional issues. It will aim to recruit around 20 researchers.

The center is managed by the Institute of International Studies (CIIS), an organization administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"The Belt and Road Initiative as well as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and BRICS New Development Bank have shown China's efforts in promoting common development in Asia and Africa. The center will serve as a think tank to support further regional collaboration," said Su Ge, CIIS head and director the new center.