A G R E E M E N T

ON COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN THE SPHERE OF TOURISM

The Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the People's Republic of China, (hereinafter referred to as the Parties)

willing to establish closer cooperation in the sphere of tourism and

recognizing tourism as an effective instrument of familiarization of the history, the cultural heritage, the lifestyle of the nations of the Parties, as well as a means of expression of good will between the people of the two nations,

agreed on the following.

ARTICLE 1

The Parties agree to cooperate in the sphere of tourism in accordance to this Agreement, the legislation of their countries and international agreements, which are binding upon both parties. The Parties shall cooperate in the development of tourism (including organized tourism) between the two States, and for that purpose - in the provision of cooperation between the relative public and private sector stakeholders and in the formation of mutual tourism products and their promotion in the third countries within the framework of various tourism projects.

ARTICLE 2

The Parties shall, on a reciprocal basis, encourage the exchange of statistical and other information in the field of tourism, including the information on tourist resources of the two States.

ARTICLE 3

The Parties shall encourage mutual participation to international exhibitions, fairs, conferences and seminars, as well as other international tourist events organized in the two States.

ARTICLE 4

The Parties shall encourage cooperation between tourism authorities, tour operators, and other organizations of their countries operating in the field of tourism with the aim to increase tourist exchanges between the two States.

ARTICLE 5

The Parties, in accordance to the legislation of their States, shall strive to make more accessible the procedures of tourism arrivals between the two States.

ARTICLE 6

The parties undertake to develop bilateral cooperation in the following fields: professional training and retraining of personnel, exchange of tourism specialists, experts and media.

ARTICLE 7

The Parties, through their tourism authorities, shall encourage the establishment and development of cooperation among investors, entrepreneurs, as well as public and other non-profit organizations in the field of tourism.

ARTICLE 8

The National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China from the Chinese part and Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia from the Armenian part are responsible for the implementation of the present Agreement.

ARTICLE 9

Parties shall set up a joint commission, composed of equal number of authorized representatives from each country, in case of necessity to settle matters concerning the implementation of the present Agreement. The meetings of the Commission shall take place upon necessity in Beijing or Yerevan.

ARTICLE 10

The Parties shall settle discrepancies during implementation or interpretation of the provisions of the present Agreement by means of consultation and negotiations.

ARTICLE 11

With the initiative of any of the Parties and by mutual agreement, changes and amendments can be made to the present Agreement, which shall be formulated by separate protocols and shall enter into force in accordance to the procedures provided by Article 12 of the present Agreement, and shall make inseparable parts of the present Agreement.

ARTICLE 12

This Agreement shall enter into force from the date of receiving through diplomatic channels the last notification on accomplishment of the internal procedures necessary for its entry into force.

This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period and can be denounced after six months from the date when one of the Parties notifies the other Party through diplomatic channels of such desire.

Concluded in Beijing on the 25^th  day of March 2015, in two authentic copies, each in Armenian, Chinese and English languages. In case of discrepancy of interpretation of the present Agreement, the English text shall prevail.

The Agreement has entered into force on 12 December 2015