AGREEMENT OF CULTURAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FRANCE

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of the Republic of France, hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Parties;

Sharing the desire of facilitating and developing closer relations of cooperation between the two countries in the areas of Education, Culture, Arts, as well as Fine Arts;

Aware of the importance of the links for cooperation existing at this time between the two countries in a wide range of areas;

Desirous of strengthening friendly links between the two peoples, and promoting and widening as far as possible their mutual understanding and acquaintance by the development of their social and cultural relations;

Have agreed on the following:

ARTICLE I

The Contracting Parties agree to promote cultural and educational cooperation between the two countries on the basis of mutual respect for their sovereignty and in conformity with the laws and regulations in force in each country, having in mind the interest of their respective peoples.

ARTICLE II

Each Contracting Party shall encourage and support the study of each other’s language, literature and culture in its educational institutions in order to promote cultural relations between the two countries.

ARTICLE III

The Contracting Parties shall, subject to the laws and regulations of each country, provide support to the study of each other’s language apart from the regular sessions of educational institutions, such as through radio and television broadcast programs and other appropriate means.

ARTICLE IV

1. The Contracting Parties, aware of the importance given to the training of personnel in charge of the teaching of each other’s language and culture, shall, within their available resources and subject to the laws and regulations in each country, encourage the organization of training sessions and the sending of lecturers, researchers and study groups to each other’s country in accordance with appropriate working programs.

2. The Contracting Parties shall, subject to the laws and regulations in each country, facilitate exchanges of learning materials and information about modern teaching methods and educational programs.

ARTICLE V

The Contracting Parties shall, subject to the laws and regulations in each country:

1. Encourage the creation of cultural institutions within each other’s territory; and

2. Provide the necessary facilities for the operation of the cultural institutions, as well as for the members of the personnel of said institutions.

ARTICLE VI

1. The Contracting Parties shall endeavor to promote and facilitate exchanges of professors, teachers, students, researchers and lecturers in the fields of culture, arts, including Fine Arts, and education, as well as officers of cultural groups from the State and private universities and other official cultural institutions.

2. The Contracting Parties shall also endeavor to promote and facilitate exchanges of representatives from media and tourism.

ARTICLE VII

Each Contracting Party shall, subject to the laws and regulations in each country, and within its available resources, grant the necessary means, especially in scholarships and fellowships, to each other’s students and researchers who intend to pursue their studies in cultural disciplines in higher educational institutions.

ARTICLE VIII

The Contracting Parties shall cooperate in the examination and evaluation of the diplomas, certificates and academic titles granted by the educational institutions of each of the two countries in order to determine their equivalences.

ARTICLE IX

The Contracting Parties shall promote in their respective countries an understanding and appreciation of the culture, history and general way of life of the other country by means of artistic and cultural activities such as lectures, theater performances, concerts or non-commercial cinematographic film showing on art, culture, education and sports, provided these activities are not contrary to the local laws and regulations.

ARTICLE X

The Contracting Parties, subject to their respective laws and regulations, shall facilitate within their territories the introduction and diffusion of:

1. Musical compositions suited for radio and television;

2. Non-commercial cinematographic films on art culture;

3. Exhibitions of artcrafts and of their reproduction;

4. Books, pamphlets, periodicals and other publications dealing with art, including Fine Arts and culture;

5. Teaching materials.

ARTICLE XI

Each Contracting Party, subject to its own laws and regulations, shall facilitate the entry and stay of the nationals of the other who will be fulfilling their functions within the framework of this Agreement.

ARTICLE XII

The negotiations necessary to implement provisions referred to in the present Agreement will be conducted through a Joint Commission the members of which will be appointed by the two Governments and to which appointed experts can be added. The Commission will meet at the request of either of the two Contracting Parties through diplomatic channels, to study questions relative to the implementation of the present Agreement.

ARTICLE XIII

The provisions of the present Agreement shall not limit the right to either Contracting Party to adopt or execute measures for reasons of public health, morale, order or security.

ARTICLE XIV

The present Agreement shall become effective upon the exchange of instruments of ratification between the Contracting Parties and shall remain in force for a period of 5 years unless terminated by either Contracting Party through a six-month prior written notice.

The Agreement shall be tacitly extended for successive period of one year unless either of the two Contracting Parties denounces it in writing six months prior to its expiry.

In witness whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present Agreement and affixed hereunto their seals.

Done in duplicate at Paris this eighteenth day of November 1978, in the Pilipino, French and English languages, all texts being equally authentic and valid.

Entry into Force: February 14, 1980