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May 16, 2000

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 2000-2001, subject to the laws and regulations of each country.

ARTICLE I - CULTURAL AND ARTS EXCHANGES

1. Both sides will exchange visits of a six (6)-member cultural delegation for a period of six (6) days.

2. Both sides will exchange visits of three (3) museum officials for ten (10) days.

3. Both sides will exchange visits of a fifteen (15)-member children's traditional performing group for a series of performances for two (2) weeks.

4. Both sides will exchange visits of an eighteen (18)-mernber school-based performing arts group for a series of performances in key cities in each other's country for one (1) or two (2) weeks.

5. Both sides will exchange visits of two (2) folk dance choreographers/experts for seven (7) to ten (10) days.

6. Both sides will exchange visits of a group of eight (8) to twelve (12) students, aged 11 to 20 years old/ to attend ballet classes for six (6) days.

ARTICLE II - EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

7. Both sides will encourage the exchange of visits of two (2) teachers and/or researchers. The details and arrangements shall be agreed upon by the concerned institutions of both sides.

8. Both sides will encourage the exchange of study visits of researchers from the educational institutions of both countries. The details and arrangements shall be agreed upon by both sides through diplomatic channels.

9. Both sides will encourage the exchange of visits of local government officials/administrators for an educational-cultural tour. The period of stay and other arrangements shall be agreed upon by the concerned local government authorities of both countries.

10. Both sides will send a five (5)-member delegation of educators for ten (10) days.

11. Both sides shall exchange three (3) scholarships each year covering studies 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.

12. Both sides will encourage direct exchanges between institutions of higher learning of the two countries. Details shall be decided through consultations between the concerned institutions of higher learning of the two sides.

ARTICLE III - WOMEN AND SOCIAL SCIENCE

13. Both sides will encourage exchanges between experts of women's concerns and women's organizations of the two countries.

ARTICLE IV - BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS

14. Both sides will encourage the donation of books and information materials for each other's national library.

ARTICLE V - SPORTS

15. Both sides will encourage exchanges and cooperation in sports. The details will be discussed by the sports organizations of the two sides.

ARTICLE VI - CONFERENCES

16. Both sides will encourage their respective scholars and experts to participate in international academic conferences held in each other's country.

ARTICLE VII - EXPENDITURES

Both sides, unless otherwise stipulated, have agreed upon the following terms and conditions:

17. The sending country will pay for the international travel fare and transport expenses of the persons and items for exchanges 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 countiy; 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 sha] meet internationally accepted standards of comfort befitting the rank of visitors concerned.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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, Culture and Sports, for the Philippine side, and the Ministry of Education for the Chinese side.

ARTICLE VIII - OTHERS

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

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

DONE in duplicate in Beijing on this 16th day of May 2000, in English and Chinese languages, both texts being equally authentic.