Tunisian Minister of Women, Family, Children and the Elderly Affairs, Naziha Laabidi (M) and Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wang Wenbin (R) sign an agreement in Tunisia's capital Tunis, on Dec. 31, 2019, in the presence of the representative of UNICEF in Tunisia Lila Peters. (Xinhua/Adele Ezzine)

TUNIS, Dec. 31 (Xinhua) -- China signed on Tuesday an agreement with Tunisia to donate materials and equipment to the Tunisian establishments operating for the benefit of the country's children.

The agreement was signed at an official ceremony in Tunisia's capital Tunis by Tunisian Minister of Women, Family, Children and the Elderly Affairs Naziha Laabidi and Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wang Wenbin, in the presence of Lila Peters, representative of the UNICEF in Tunisia.

The Chinese donation will strengthen and develop the information system of early childhood centers in Tunisia, according to the agreement.

"This is an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with Tunisian Ministry of Women, Family, Children and the Elderly Affairs and with UNICEF for the benefit of Tunisian children," said Wang.

This cooperation will contribute to the development of Tunisian children's future, the Chinese ambassador added.

Meanwhile, Laabidi expressed her gratitude to the Chinese government for its support and assistance to Tunisia, especially the country's children "which constitute a national wealth."

"Our objective is to reduce the gap between children in all Tunisian regions in order to achieve equity and justice, while guaranteeing a good life for each child," she told Xinhua.

Expressing optimism about the level of partnership between Tunisia and China, the minister said this partnership reflects the common will of the two countries to move forward for a better future.

For her part, Peters said the year 2019 marked the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"On the occasion, several early childhood centers in many Tunisian provinces were inaugurated to welcome between 150 and 300 children," said the UNICEF's representative. ■