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June 03, 2004

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, hereinafter jointly referred to as the "Parties";

Mindful of the need to promote cooperation between the two countries;

Desiring to strengthen understanding and solidarity between their people and to ensure their well being;

Guided by a common will to broaden and strengthen the political, economic, scientific, technical, social and cultural cooperation between their respective countries;

HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:

ARTICLE 1

The Parties hereby establish a Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation.

ARTICLE 2

The Joint Commission shall be headed by the Foreign Ministers of the respective Parties or by the persons they appoint for that purpose. The two Parties shall determine the composition of the Joint Commission.

ARTICLE 3

The Joint Commission shall broaden and strengthen cooperation between the Parties and shall:

1- conduct bilateral consultations and coordination with regard to important international issues and concerns;

2- follow up the implementation of the Agreements already concluded or to be concluded between the two Parties.

3- promote activities in favor of political, commercial, economic, industrial, cultural and technical co-operation on the basis of the Agreements signed or to be signed between the two Parties;

4- identify new fields for the continued development of commercial, economic, industrial, cultural and technical co- operation between the two Parties;

5- exchange information in the economic, commercial, scientific, industrial, cultural and technical fields.

6- make proposals to facilitate the implementation of any project established in accordance with this Agreement or by separate protocols.

ARTICLE 4

The Joint Commission shall establish committees, subcommittees and/or working groups to assist it in the performance of its functions. The head of each committee shall present a report to the Joint Commission on the activities and progress of his group.

ARTICLE 5

1- The Joint Commission shall meet at least once in two years in an ordinary session, alternately in Manila and in Rabat or in an extraordinary session at the written request of one of the Parties.

2- The level, date and the agenda of the Joint Commission sessions shall be agreed upon by the two Parties through diplomatic channels.

3- The Parties shall exchange working papers two months at the latest before the date of the meetings.

4- The heads of the respective delegations shall jointly assume The Chairmanship of the Joint Commission meetings.

5- The reports of the meetings of the Joint Commission shall be submitted to the respective Governments for consideration.

ARTICLE 6

Any dispute arising from the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement shall be settled by consultations and negotiations through diplomatic channels. In the event that a mutually satisfactory resolution to the dispute cannot be achieved, the dispute shall be referred to the Joint Commission as a last resort in an effort to seek an amicable settlement.

ARTICLE 7

Any amendment or revision to this Agreement shall be done by mutual consent of the Parties through diplomatic channels. Such amendment or revision shall enter into force in accordance with the provision on entry into force.

ARTICLE 8

The provisions of this Agreement shall not be interpreted to the detriment of other cooperation agreements between the Parties.

ARTICLE 9

1- This agreement shall enter into force on the date of the latter written notification by the Parties, through diplomatic channels, indicating that the domestic legal requirements for its entry into force have been complied with.

2- This Agreement shall remain in force and effect for a period of (5) five years and may be renewed for a similar period, unless one of the Parties officially notifies the other, through diplomatic channels, of its desire to suspend or terminate this Agreement. In such a case, the Agreement shall remain valid until thirty (30) days after the date of notice for suspension or termination.

Done at Rabat on 3 June 2004 in two originals in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authentic.