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December 17, 2002

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the People's Republic of China, desiring to develop and strengthen further the cultural exchanges and friendly relations existing between the two countries on the basis of the Cultural Agreement signed in Beijing on July 8, 1979, have agreed, through mutual consultations, on the following Executive Program for Cultural Exchanges for 2002 to 2004, subject to the laws and regulations of each country.

ARTICLE I - CULTURAL AND ARTS EXCHANGES

1. Both sides will exchange visits of a five-member cultural delegation for a period of five days.

2. Both sides will exchange visits between the Cultural Policy Delegation of the Philippine Councilors League and Chinese Cultural Officials consisting of twenty members for a period of eight days within, the period of the program.

3. Both sides shall agree to collaborate on a musical theater production. Details shall be decided through consultations between the concerned agencies of the two sides.

4. Both sides will exchange visits of a group of eight to twelve students and teachers to attend ballet classes for seven to ten days.

5. Both sides will exchange visits of five writers for a period of ten days.

6. Both sides will exchange visits of two experts in the field of ancient art conservation and restoration for a period of ten days.

7. Both sides will send two faculty members from each other's educational institution for an exhibit of ethnic textiles and costumes, including digital photographs and reproductions, books and publications, and a lecture on traditional art.

8. Both sides will send a fifteen member chamber ensemble to perform in each other's country for ten days.

9. Both sides will exchange visits of a twelve-member stage play delegation to perform in each other's country for ten days.

ARTICLE II - EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH

10. Both sides will exchange teachers to teach language in the other's educational institutions on the basis of their necessity.

11. Both sides will exchange four language researchers from research institutions of both countries for a period often months.

12. Both sides will exchange a total of three scholarships each year covering study at the undergraduate, graduate, and advanced levels, as well as the exchange of visiting scholars and experts with the fields of study or areas of specialization to be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

ARTICLE III - BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS

13. Both sides will exchange publications and information materials for each other's national library and other institutions.

ARTICLE IV - FILM

14. Both sides will hold a film festival in each other's country for a period of seven days, during which a five-member delegation will be sent to attend the activities.

15. Both sides shall encourage their own films to participate in an International Film Festival held in each other's country.

16. Both sides shall encourage in principle dubbing good films of the other country for entry into their respective domestic market. Details concerned shall be decided through consultations between film imports and exports institutions and companies of the two countries.

ARTICLE V- EXPENDITURES

17. The sending country will pay for the international travel fare and transport expenses of the persons and items for exchange stipulated in the present Executive Program. The international travel fare and transport expenses to be borne by the sending country will be those incurred from the sending country to the city where the official visit starts in the host country, and from the city where the official visit ends en route back to the sending country; while the host country will shoulder internal expenses such as board and lodging, transportation, and medical treatment in cases of emergency. The accommodation to be provided by the host country shall meet internationally accepted standards of comfort befitting the rank of the visitors concerned.

18. The consular sections of the Embassy of the Philippines in Beijing and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Manila shall grant appropriate visas gratis to cultural delegations, scholars, and other participants under this Executive Program.

19. All authorized Philippine participants, representatives/delegates in the exchange programs under the Philippines-China Cultural Agreement shall be exempted from payment of Philippine travel tax.

20. The sending country will shoulder the costs of any extension of its delegation's period of stay in the host country beyond the period stipulated in the Executive Program as agreed upon between the two sides.

21. Consultations regarding expenses for scholarship exchanges by the two countries, as well as the terms and conditions for the exchange of professors and scholars, will be conducted between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Education for the Philippine side, and the Ministry of Education for the Chinese side.

ARTICLE VI - OTHERS

22. Both sides will encourage and support non-governmental cultural exchanges. Specifics and financial terms and conditions shall be decided through consultations between concerned agencies of the two countries.

23. Further consultations on details of the items for exchange stipulated in the present Executive Program will be conducted between the Department of Foreign Affairs for the Philippine side and the Ministries and Departments concerned for the Chinese side.

24. If it is necessary to add or omit some items during the implementation of the present Executive Program, agreement on such additions or omissions will be made through consultations between the Department of Foreign-Affairs for the Philippine side and the Ministry of Culture and other departments concerned for the Chinese side.

25. The present Executive Program will enter into force on the day of signing by the two Governments.

DONE in duplicate in Manila on this 17th day of December 2002, in English and Chinese languages, both texts being equally authentic.