AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA CONCERNING THE UNITED STATES VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN CHINA
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA CONCERNING THE UNITED STATES VOLUNTEER PROGRAM IN CHINA
Whole document
The Government of the United States of America and the Government of
the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as "Party" or
"Parties"), recognizing the importance of developing friendship and
cooperation between their countries, have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE I
1. The Government of the United States will send to China such
Volunteers through the Peace Corps Program (to be known in China as the
U.S.-China Friendship Volunteers and hereinafter referred to as
"Volunteers" or the "Program")as may be mutually agreed by the two
Parties to perform mutually agreed tasks in China.
2. The Volunteers will work under the immediate supervision of
governmental and private organizations in China designated by our two
governments. For these purposes, the Ministry of Education has
responsibility for matters affecting the Program that involve the
national or local governments, including taking administrative action,
policy decisions, interagency cooperation, consultation with other
ministries regarding programming outside the education sector, or
national coordination. The Chinese Education Association for
International Exchange, acting under the general guidance and
supervision of the Ministry of Education, has primary responsibility for
helping to facilitate and coordinate Program operations at the local
level.
3. The Government of the United States will provide training to
enable the Volunteers to perform their tasks in the most effective
manner.
4. The Government of China will facilitate matters for the Program
and bear such share of the costs of the Program incurred in China as the
two Parties may agree.
ARTICLE II
1. The Volunteers should obey the laws of China and the rules and
regulations of their Program site work unit. The Government of China, as
the host country, will accord equitable treatment to the Volunteers and
their property; accord them all necessary aid and protection, including
treatment no less favorable than that accorded generally to nationals of
the United States residing in China; and fully inform, consult, and
cooperate with representatives of the United States with respect to all
such matters.
2. The Government of China will exempt the Volunteers and persons
performing functions under contract with the Program who are not
citizens of China from all taxes on payments that they receive to defray
their living costs, on income derived from their work for the Program,
and on income from other sources outside China; and from all customs
duties or other charges on their personal property introduced into China
for their own use. The Government of China will issue, without fee,
residence permits, health certificates, and visas, including
multiple-entry visas, to Volunteers and persons performing functions
under contract with the Program and will absorb any other charges or
fees required for such persons to serve in China, except license fees.
ARTICLE III
1. The Government of the United States will provide the Volunteers
with such limited quantities of equipment and supplies as the two
Parties may consider necessary to enable the Volunteers to perform their
tasks effectively.
2. The Government of China will exempt from all taxes (including the
value-added tax on vehicles), customs duties, and other charges all
Program equipment and supplies introduced into or acquired in China by
the Government of the United States, or any contractor financed by it,
for use hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
1. For effective implementation of the Program in China, the
Government of China will receive an official Program Representative of
the United States to serve as Program Director in China (hereinafter
referred to as "Director")and such staff to work with the Director
(including employees and contractor personnel as designated by the
Director), and members of their families forming part of their
households, as are acceptable to the Government of China. The Government
of China will exempt such persons who are not citizens of China from all
taxes on income derived from their work for the Program or other sources
outside China; and from all customs duties or other charges on their
personal property introduced into China for their own use.
2. The Director, staff, and members of their families forming part
of their households, who are not citizens of China, shall be accorded
status equivalent to that accorded administrative and technical staff
personnel of the diplomatic mission of the United States, except they
will not be accorded immunities.
3. The Government of China will issue, without fee, residence
permits, health certificates, and visas, including multiple-entry visas,
to the Director, staff, and individuals performing functions under this
Agreement, and members of their families forming part of their
household, except that a fee will be charged for visas issued to
accompanying spouses who are engaged in other work in China and to
children who are more than 18 years of age. The Chinese Party will
absorb any other charges or fees required for such persons to serve in
China, except license fees.
ARTICLE V
The Government of China will exempt from investment and deposit
requirements and currency controls or restrictions all funds introduced
into China to pay for Program costs, operations, or activities under
this Agreement by the Government of the United States or contractors
financed by it. Such funds shall be convertible into the currency of
China at the highest rate that is not unlawful in China.
ARTICLE VI
1. Appropriate representatives of the two Parties may make such
arrangements with respect to the Volunteers and the Program in China as
appear necessary or appropriate for the purpose of implementing this
Agreement.
2. Any disputes arising under this Agreement will be resolved
amicably by the two Parties.
ARTICLE VII
The activities of each Party under this Agreement are subject to the
availability of appropriated funds.
ARTICLE VIII
This agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the two Parties.
ARTICLE IX
This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature and
shall remain in force until ninety days after the date of the written
notification from either Party to the other of its intention to
terminate the Agreement.
Signed in Beijing on the 29th day of June 1998, in duplicate, in the
English and Chinese languages, each text being equally authentic.
For the Government of the For the Government of the
United States of America People's Republic of China
Ambassador of the United States Vice Minister of Education
s all
Program equipment and supplies introduced into or acquired in China by
the Government of the United States, or any contractor financed by it,
for use hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
1. For effective implementation of the Program in China, the
Government of China will receive an official Program Representative of
the United States to serve as Program Director in China (hereinafter
referred to as "Director")and such staff to work with the Director
(including employees and contractor personnel as designated by the
Director), and members of their families forming part of their
households, as are acceptable to the Government of China. The Government
of China will exempt such persons who are not citizens of China from all
taxes on income derived from their work for the Program or other sources
outside China; and from all customs duties or other charges on their
personal property introduced into China for their own use.
2. The Director, staff, and members of their families forming part
of their households, who are not citizens of China, shall be accorded
status equivalent to that accorded administrative and technical staff
personnel of the diplomatic mission of the United States, except they
will not be accorded immunities.
3. The Government of China will issue, without fee, residence
permits, health certificates, and visas, including multiple-entry visas,
to the Director, staff, and individuals performing functions under this
Agreement, and members of their families forming part of their
household, except that a fee will be charged for visas issued to
accompanying spouses who are engaged in other work in China and to
children who are more than 18 years of age. The Chinese Party will
absorb any other charges or fees required for such persons to serve in
China, except license fees.
ARTICLE V
The Government of China will exempt from investment and deposit
requirements and currency controls or restrictions all funds introduced
into China to pay for Program costs, operations, or activities under
this Agreement by the Government of the United States or contractors
financed by it. Such funds shall be convertible into the currency of
China at the highest rate that is not unlawful in China.
ARTICLE VI
1. Appropriate representatives of the two Parties may make such
arrangements with respect to the Volunteers and the Program in China as
appear necessary or appropriate for the purpose of implementing this
Agreement.
2. Any disputes arising under this Agreement will be resolved
amicably by the two Parties.
ARTICLE VII
The activities of each Party under this Agreement are subject to the
availability of appropriated funds.
ARTICLE VIII
This agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the two Parties.
ARTICLE IX
This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature and
shall remain in force until ninety days after the date of the written
notification from either Party to the other of its intention to
terminate the Agreement.
Signed in Beijing on the 29th day of June 1998, in duplicate, in the
English and Chinese languages, each text being equally authentic.
For the Government of the For the Government of the
United States of America People's Republic of China
Ambassador of the United States Vice Minister of Education
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