TUNIS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- "In May 2019, China will realize the Tunisian dream of building a purely Tunisian diplomatic academy," Mondher Dhraief, the director general of this academy told Xinhua on Thursday.

The academy, built with financial aid from the Chinese government, will cover an area of 2 hectares, and will be under the tutelage of Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Located near the headquarters of Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, north of the capital Tunis, this diplomatic academy will have five floors in addition to an underground parking.

The diplomatic academy is a proof of "success of the fruitful cooperation between Tunisia and China," Dhraief said. "This project is very important given its role in training Tunisian diplomatic talents with international standards."

Dhraief said a group of Chinese experts visited Tunisia to design the first model for the academy in August 2018, and other meetings were held in China to reach the final draft of the project.

The diplomatic academy will have a scientific council that will be open to trainers and diplomats from foreign countries.

"Tunisia is working on the development of its foreign policy and the promotion of its diplomatic skills," said Dhraief. "The major aim of this diplomatic academy is to strengthen the influence of Tunisian diplomacy in the world."