[Title] Agreement on Cooperation in Education between the Governments of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties"),

Aiming to strengthen and consolidate friendship and corporation among peoples of the Member States on the basis of mutual respect and equality,

Being faithful to the goals and principles of The Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization of June 7, 2002,

Attaching importance to strengthen cooperation in education among Member States,

Considering the traditionally close and productive relationship in education,

Striving to further consolidate and develop mutually beneficial cooperation based on the principles of equality, independence and integrity of the education systems in the Member States,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

In accordance with their State`s national law the Parties shall cooperate in education and exchange information and experience of education reforms undertaken by the Parties.

Article 2

Parties shall support the development of integration processes in education and the creation for these purposes (as appropriate) of the information and legal and regulatory framework for the policy in education in the States of the Parties.

Article 3

The Parties shall promote the mutual exchange of trainees, scientific and teaching staff of educational institutions/organizations of the Parties.

Quantitative indicators, financial and other terms of such exchange shall be determined on an annual basis by the education authorities of the Parties in protocols.

Article 4

The Parties shall exchange information on the laws and materials on education issues of the States of the Parties.

Article 5

The Parties shall conduct joint scientific conferences, symposia, seminars and "round tables" on actual directions of multilateral cooperation in the field of education.

Article 6

The Parties shall promote the establishment of direct contact among education institutions and organizations of the Parties.

Article 7

The Parties shall encourage mutual participation of students of the educational institutions/organizations of the Parties in international competitions, contests, festivals, joint environmental, tourism, sports and other activities.

Article 8

The Parties shall cooperate in enhancing the quality of education and exchange information about licensing, certification and state accreditation of the education institutions/organizations and programs of the Parties.

Article 9

The Parties shall promote the establishment of mechanisms for recognition and equivalence of national education diplomas issued by the educational institutions/organizations and the competent authorities of the Parties.

Article 10

In line with their capacity, each Party shall encourages the study in its educational institutions/organizations of the languages, history, culture and literature of the other Parties States in ways that this Party deems most appropriate.

Article 11

By agreement, the Parties shall exchange materials and archival documents relating to the history, geography, social and political development of their countries in order to use them in the education process.

Article 12

The Parties shall promote cooperation between non-governmental associations of students - the citizens of their states.

Article 13

The implementation of this Agreement shall be based on the following financial terms:

travel expenses of individuals (to the location of the educational institutions/organizations and back) participating in exchange programs under this Agreement shall be financed through the funds of an individual and/or sending educational institutions/organizations;

in accordance with its laws and regulations the receiving Party shall exempt the nationals of the Parties participating in exchange programs under this Agreement from paying the tuition, use of libraries and educational and laboratory equipment, as well as provide them with scholarships and dormitory;

in accordance with its health laws, the receiving Party shall provide the participants of the exchange programs under this Agreement with health care, while the sending Party shall ensure that they have medical insurance;

The Parties shall not bear the costs associated with the stay in the country of the members of the families of students and academic staff, nor provide them with accommodation and employment.

Article 14

In order to coordinate joint actions, agree on and carry out specific measures for the implementation of this Agreement, the Parties shall establish a standing expert working group of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on cooperation in the field of education.

This working group shall meet at least once a year or as needed (as proposed by two or more Parties) to summarize results and develop further proposals regarding the implementation of this Agreement.

Article 15

By mutual consent of the Parties, this Agreement may be changed or amended by issuing separate protocols that form its integral part and enter into force in accordance with Article 21 of this Agreement.

Article 16

Disputes and disagreement arising from the interpretation and implementation of this Agreement shall be addressed through negotiation and consultation by the Parties.

Article 17

The Russian and Chinese languages shall be the working languages for cooperation under this Agreement.

Article 18

This Agreement shall not affect the rights and obligations of the Parties arising from other international treaties which they are parties to.

Article 19

This Agreement shall be open for accession by any state that has become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

For the acceding State, this Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of the deposit of the instrument of accession.

Article 20

This Agreement shall be deposited with the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization that shall send certified copies of the Agreement to the Parties within 15 days following the date of its signing.

Article 21

This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period and shall enter into force on the date of the receipt by the Depositary of the last written notification of the completion of each of the Parties of its internal procedures necessary for the entry of this Agreement into force.

Each Party may withdraw from this Agreement by giving a written notice to the Depositary not less than ninety days prior to the expected date of withdrawal. The Depositary shall notify the other Parties of this intention within thirty days from the date of the receipt of the notification of withdrawal.

In the event of termination of this Agreement, its provisions shall remain in force with respect to the projects and programs under implementation until their full completion.

Done at Shanghai, on June 15, 2006, in a single original, in the Russian and Chinese languages, both texts being equally authentic.

signatures