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September 06, 2001

The Philippine Delegation was headed by the Honorable Dr. Rogelio A. Panlasigui, Undersecretary of Science and Technology.

The Cuban Delegation was headed by the Honorable Noemi Benitez y de Mendoza, Vice Minister for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation.

The list of both Delegations appears as Annex I of this Protocol,

The Meeting was informed that, during their stay in Manila, the Head of the Cuban Delegation paid courtesy calls and held talks with:

• Hon. Teofisto T. Guingona, Jr., Vice President and Secretary of Foreign Affairs
• Hon. Estrella F. Alabastro, Secretary of Science and Technology
• Hon. Lauro L. Baja Jr., Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs
• Hon. Evelyn B. Pantig, Vice Chair of the National Commission of Culture and the Arts and Undersecretary of Tourism
• Mrs. Florina Vistal, Executive Director of the Board of Investments
• Atty. Miguel Varela, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The Agenda approved by the Joint Commission was as follows:

1. Opening Statements delivered by both Delegation Heads.

2. Areas of Cooperation on Scientific and Technological Cooperation for the period 2001-2004.

3. Financial and General Conditions

4. Date and venue of the 2nd Philippines-Cuba Joint Commission Meeting.

Agenda Item 1

The Head of the Philippine Side welcomed the Cuban delegation and gave a presentation on the structure and programs of Science and Technology in the Philippines. He also emphasized that, although the Department of Science and Technology is tasked with the formulation of programs and regulations in Science and Technology, the implementation of projects may be conducted by the Philippine research and development system, and other departments of the Government.

The Head of the Cuban Side also gave information about the interests of cooperation that should be developed to increase bilateral relations, and indicated that Cuba's policies on Science and Technology are regulated by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, adding that many proposals in this Protocol would be implemented through the said Cuban institution.

Agenda Item 2

Both Sides agreed to exchange experts and information with a view to identifying specific cooperation projects in the areas indicated hereunder. Both Sides also agreed to respond to the other side within a period of 120 days regarding the acceptability of projects which may be proposed during the validity of this Protocol.

1. Agriculture

ANIMAL PRODUCTION AND HEALTH

1.1 The Cuban Side expressed its interest in developing cooperation in animal health, including veterinary products and animal vaccines. The Cuban Side, through its enterprise LABIOFAM S.A., proposed exchanges in the production of viral and bacterial vaccines for birds, swine, bovine, equine, sheep and canine, as well as anaesthetics, antibiotics, anti parasites, disinfectant, antiseptic, cathartic, chemotheraphy, vitamins, hormones, means of diagnoses and others.

1.2 The Cuban Side, through LABIOFAM S.A., proposed cooperation in the field of agriculture, particularly in the production of pharmaceutical products and others.

FRUITS

1.3 Both Sides expressed their interest in technical cooperation on citrus and tropical fruits, particularly the papaya.

RICE

1.4 The Cuban Side requested technical assistance and cooperation in the production of rice, through the exchange of experts, varieties and germ plasma.

CROP PROTECTION

1.5 The Cuban Side requested assistance for the registration in the Philippines of BIORAT, a pesticide derived from biotechnology. The Cuban Side informed the Philippine Side that the documents were already sent to certify the origin and the quality of the stump used in this product.

2. Health

2.1 The Cuban Side reiterated its invitation to the Secretary of Health of the Philippines to visit Cuba in order to identify possible areas of cooperation, particularly on the Cuban advances in medicine.

3. Biotechnology

3.1 Both Sides agreed on the sending of a Philippine delegation to the Centre of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of Cuba. Said delegation shall be composed of representatives from institutions involved in biotechnology, to carry out exchanges on Cuba's advances in said field, and to identify areas of mutual interest in research on transgenic plants and fish.

3.2 The Cuban Side emphasized the need to obtain the sanitary registration of the vaccine Heberbiovac HB for its commercialization.

3.3 The Cuban Side insisted on discussions and the signing of a Contract of Supply and Technical Assistance of the Growth Epidermis Factor with the pharmaceutical company Ad - Drugstel.

3.4 Both Sides agreed to cooperate on the application of marine research.

3.5 The Cuban Side expressed its interest to produce, register and commercialize, together with the Philippines the ior LeukoCIM (Filgastrim) for the Philippines and other countries of common interest in the region.

3.6 The Philippine Side proposed cooperation in the areas of animal vaccines, diagnostics kits and ruminant nutrition.

3.7. The Philippine Side proposed cooperation in the area of aquaculture, particularly on tilapia.

3.8. The Philippine Side proposed cooperation in human immunology for diagnostic methods and therapy.

3.9. The Philippine Side proposed cooperation in the area of embryogenesis of the papaya and the sugarcane.

4. Science, Technology and Environment

4.1 The Cuban Side broached the possibility of carrying out a Bilateral Workshop in Cuba within the first quarter of 2002 in the areas of biotechnology and technological innovation with a view to promoting the exchange of experiences and mutual expertise, and which will allow the consolidation of cooperation, in these fields.

4.2.The Philippine Side proposed cooperation in forestry, particularly on reforestation and forest protection; as well as in biodiversity, conservation and wildlife management.

4.3. The Philippine Side proposed cooperation in agricultural solid wastes.

5. Fisheries and Aquaculture

5.1 The Cuban Side requested training in integrated aquaculture.

5.2 Both Sides expressed interest in improving productivity in fishing and related fields, particularly inland waters. For this purpose, the Cuban Side offered training in reproduction and cultivation of CIPRINIDOS (carps); nutrition of fish and cultivation of fresh water lobsters (Cherax Quaddricarinatus).

6. National Institute of Water Resources

6.1 The Cuban Side submitted to the Philippine Side information about the engineering and consultancy services of the Cuban Enterprise "Hydraulic Technique S.A." under the National Institute of Water Resources.

7. Sugar

7.1 The Cuban Side offered technical assistance, equipment, engineering and products for sugar cane development in the Philippines.

7.2 Both Sides agreed to work jointly in the development of sugar cane by-products. For this, Cuba offered to contribute technology, equipment and assistance for the construction of plants in the Philippines.

7.3 The Cuban Side proposed the continuity of exchanges of sugar cane varieties and the fight against sugar cane pests and diseases.

7.4 The Cuban Side through the UIP CUBA-9, proposed cooperation in the development of sugar cane trash-like annual fiber for its use and the conversion of its by-products for different economic and social sectors. For this purpose, other annual fibers from the Philippines can be included.

8. Basic Industry

8.1 The Cuban Side offered, through Union Geominera:

Courses and training to technicians and engineers, given by specialists of high level and experience.

Professional services, perforation, specialists' recruitment, laboratories, metallurgical investigations, geologic cartography and geophysical services.

8.2 The Cuban Side manifested its interest in completing the registration process of Cefalosporina, a penicillin-like antibiotic, as well as other medicines that are of interest to the Philippine Side.

9. Iron and Steel Metal Working Industry

9.1 The Cuban Side promoted the participation of managers from the Philippines in METANICA, a trade and specialized convention with international projection of the Iron and Steel Metal Working industries, electronic and recycling, held every .year in July in Havana.

9.2 The Cuban Side, through the Technical and Technological Services Company from SIME, TECNOSIME, offered specialized technical assistance in the sectors of mechanics, metal mechanics, metallurgical, energetic, recycling, electronics, electro technical and automation.

Agenda Item 3

As a result of the consultations, it was agreed that the Sending Party shall bear the travel expenses of the study groups/experts to and from the country of the Receiving Party. The Receiving Party shall bear the expenses for the food, accommodation, and local transportation, health and accident insurance of such groups. Other sources and modes of financing the projects under this program may be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

The two Sides agreed that projects and activities that may be proposed by either Side in the course of implementing this Protocol may be carried out in the 2001-2004 program period. The concrete details of such projects and activities shall be transmitted through diplomatic channels. The implementation of the projects will be evaluated in the next meeting of the joint commission.

The two Sides agreed that the communications pertinent to the implementation of this Protocol would be coordinated through the Department of Science and Technology for the Philippine Side and the Ministry for Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation for the Cuban side.

To ensure, the smooth and effective implementation of the agreed projects, both Sides agreed to exchange missions to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the projects in this protocol.

Agenda Item 4

The two Sides agreed that the next meeting of the joint commission will be held in the Republic of Cuba, at a date to be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

The Cuban Side extended an invitation to the Honorable Teofisto T. Guingona Jr., Philippine Vice President and Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and to the Honorable Estrella F. Alabastro, Philippine Secretary of Science and Technology, to visit Cuba at the earliest possible time. The Philippine Side took note of the invitations, with appreciation, and will inform the Cuban Side of the dates of their visits through diplomatic channels.

The Cuban delegation thanked the Philippine Side for the hospitality given to the Cuban delegation during its stay in Manila.

Done in Manila, on 06 September 2001, in duplicate in the English and Spanish languages, both texts being equally authentic.

Annexe 1

CUBAN DELEGATION

PHILIPPINE DELEGATION