His Excellency the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, Mukhtar Al-Yafaei, met today at the Ministry's headquarters in the interim capital, Aden, with representatives of the Aden Center for Historical Studies to discuss ways of strengthening research cooperation, enhancing mechanisms for utilizing academic studies in support of government policies and programmes related to social affairs, as well as addressing the Center's institutional framework and expanding its academic partnerships.

During the meeting, Minister Al-Yafaei was briefed by the Center's Chairman, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Salmi, on the Center's activities, including its publications of research papers and books, its peer-reviewed academic journal, and its projects for translating foreign publications, documenting and digitizing historical newspapers, magazines, and archival records, and making them accessible to researchers. He was also informed about the conferences and seminars organized by the Center in Aden and several other governorates, as well as the key institutional challenges affecting the continuity of its research programmes and projects.

Minister Al-Yafaei emphasized the importance of the Center playing an active role in supporting government institutions in developing policies that are better informed by both the local and historical contexts. He stressed the value of research-based knowledge in understanding social transformations and community needs, and called for the development of practical visions, priority-driven studies, and well-defined research projects with measurable outcomes that can contribute to improving social policies and programmes while enhancing their effectiveness and sustainability.

The Minister also commended the Center's role in preserving the nation's historical heritage and documenting the collective national memory. He affirmed that the Ministry's relationship with academic research centers extends beyond institutional oversight to encompass research collaboration and public awareness initiatives. He noted that this partnership is founded on complementarity between the Ministry's role as the government authority responsible for social affairs and the Center's role as a knowledge institution producing scholarly research. He further observed that societies begin to fragment and decline when their culture and historical identity are deliberately undermined.

For their part, members of the Center's delegation explained that a significant portion of their work in research, translation, academic peer review, and scholarly studies is carried out on a voluntary basis, reflecting their commitment to preserving the country's cultural and historical heritage and making it accessible to researchers and future generations. They also highlighted the Center's publications, documentation projects, and academic events, while expressing their aspiration to expand its activities and establish both national and international partnerships to ensure the sustainability of its academic mission.