TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 12969 

________________________________________________________________________ 

PEACE CORPS 

 Agreement Between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

and the PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 

Signed at Beijing June 29, 1998 

 
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966 

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued 

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent 

 evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than 

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and 

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime 

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the 

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof 

or authentication thereof.” 
 PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 

 Peace Corps 

Agreement signed at Beijing June 29, 1998; 

Entered into force June 29, 1998. 
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

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.
United States of America People's Republic of 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

Ambassador of the United States	Vice Minister of Education