Scottish Executive and Shandong Province in China
Agreement between Shandong Province of the People's Republic of China and Scotland of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the Establishment of Friendship Region Relationship
Shandong Province of the People's Republic of China and Scotland of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, acting in accordance with the principle of the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, wishing to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and British people, and consolidate and develop friendly cooperation between the two regions, have reached agreement, through friendly consultation, on the establishment of a Friendship Region Relationship.
1. The two sides will carry out, in accordance with the principles of equality and mutual benefit, exchanges and co-operation between Scotland and Shandong in various forms in the fields of trade and investment, science and technology, culture, education, tourism, environment, personnel, etc. to promote common prosperity and development.
1.1 Trade and investment: support expanded business links between Scotland and Shandong.
1.2 Science and technology: to identify where synergies could lend to links, including how research ideas are developed into commercial concerns.
1.3 Culture: to raise understanding of each other's language and culture, including school links.
1.4 Education: to develop joint education programmes and increase student flow between Scotland and Shandong Universities and Colleges. To develop links between schools in Shandong and Scotland.
1.5 Tourism: to raise awareness of each other's areas and attractions to tourists.
1.6 Environment: to develop links in areas such as oil and renewable energy and how they impact on the environment.
1.7 Personnel: to have regular exchanges between leaders and officials of Shandong Province and the Scottish Executive.
2. Regular contact shall be maintained between the leaders and relevant departments of the two sides to facilitate consultations on the exchanges and cooperation as well as matters of common concern.
3. The two sides appoint the International Division of the Scottish Executive and the Foreign Affairs Office of Shandong Provincial Government as the liaison offices for the Agreement. Within six months of the date of signing the Agreement the lead officials will develop a joint action plan to detail specific proposals to be taken forward in collaboration within the areas set out above.
4. This Agreement can be amended and complemented at any time in writing with the understanding of both sides.
5. This Agreement is not intended to create legally binding obligations between both sides.
6. This Agreement shall come into force from the date of signature. It will be valid for five years. Upon expiration, it may remain in force if neither side terminates it.
7. This Agreement, signed in Jinan, is done in duplicate in the Chinese and English languages, both texts being equally authentic.
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