[Title] Agreement on Cooperation in Culture between the Governments of the Members States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

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

Desiring to strengthen and develop the relations of friendship and cooperation between the nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the basis of mutual respect and equality,

Expressing its commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization of June 7, 2002

Attaching great importance to strengthening cooperation between the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the field of culture,

Taking into account the traditional close and fruitful relations in the area of culture,

Aiming to further expand and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation based on the principles of equality and respect for ethnic and cultural identity of the Parties

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

In accordance with the norms of international law and national legislation, the Parties shall cooperate in the area of music, theater, visual arts, cinema, archives, libraries and museums, protection of cultural heritage, folk crafts, decorative and applied arts, non-professional, performing arts, circus, as well as other kinds of creative activity.

Article 2

The Parties shall support further strengthening of cooperation and establishment for this purpose, as appropriate, of the information and legal framework for cooperation among the States of the Parties in the field of culture.

Article 3

On the basis of certain international treaties and national laws, the Parties shall cooperate in the field of training and advanced training of employees in certain specialties of culture and art, and also support direct interaction between educational institutions of culture and art of the Parties.

The Parties shall exchange information on cultural events (seminars, competitions, conferences, symposia, round tables, sessions, festivals and other forms of creative and scientific expertise exchange) taking place in the territory of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and facilitate the participation of their representatives in these events.

Article 4

In accordance with the norms of the international law and national legislation and within their respective jurisdiction, the Parties shall develop cooperation on the identification and return of the cultural property found in the territory of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a result of illegal export, as well as take measures to prevent illegal import and export of cultural property, exchange information on these issues and facilitate the return of illegally exported cultural property.

Article 5

The Parties shall cooperate in the area of protection, conservation and restoration of monuments and cultural heritage sites, promote cooperation among the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the framework of international projects in the field of culture.

Formats of cooperation, creation of expert groups, procedures of work shall be specified by individual international agreements and other documents.

Article 6

The Parties shall cooperate in the field of cinematography, in particular, between their national film archives (film funds).

The Parties shall promote:

- cooperation between cinema distributing companies and institutions and creative unions of cinematography professionals of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization;

- participation of films, actors and filmmakers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in international film festivals organized in the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, according to the regulations of these festivals;

- implementation of cinema projects and exchange of films between the Parties on a non-commercial basis.

Article 7

The Parties shall promote contacts in the area of traditional culture and traditional folk arts and crafts, exhibitions of folk artists, folk art festivals, facilitate the participation of folk groups in events and folk festivals held in the territories of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Article 8

With the view to deepen cooperation in the field of cultural studies and based on bilateral agreements, the Parties may share archives, research and other materials relating to culture, history, geography and social development of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Article 9

The Parties shall encourage cooperation in publishing, book production, translation of fiction, scientific and technical literature and other printed materials, as well as preparation and holding of book fairs in the territory of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The formats of cooperation shall be specified by individual international agreements and other documents.

Article 10

Within their competence and in accordance with their national legislation, the Parties shall exchange information in the area of copyright and related rights protection.

Article 11

The Parties shall cooperate in the implementation of multilateral programs and projects of interest to them in the area of culture related to the development of creativity of children and youth.

Article 12

Unless otherwise provided by other international agreement, the activities under this Agreement shall be financed as follows:

The sending Party shall cover the travel and transportation expenses of their groups, delegations and individual representatives, carrying props, customs and airport taxes in its territory, performers' fees (provided contracts are available), medical insurance;

In accordance with its national law, on its territory the receiving Party shall pay for accommodation and meals, transportation, rental of halls equipped with necessary technical equipment for performances, all kinds of advertisings, auxiliary and technical staff, interpreters, customs and airport fees, cultural program.

Terms of exhibitions and other events, as well as mutual obligations of the Parties (dates, exhibits’ transportation costs, travel of accompanying staff, customs and storage costs, security, insurance) shall be agreed in each specific case by the interested organizations of the Parties.

Article 13

In order to coordinate joint actions under this Agreement, negotiate and implement specific measures in the framework of cultural cooperation, the Parties shall establish an expert working group of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on developing cooperation in the field of culture.

The expert working group shall meet at least once a year or as needed (at the request of two or more Parties) to summarize the results and develop further strategies to implement this Agreement.

Article 14

The Parties shall elaborate programs and projects in the area, as appropriate.

Article 15

By mutual consent of the Parties this Agreement may be changed and amended by issuing separate protocols that form an integral part thereof.

Article 16

Disagreements over the interpretation and application of the provisions of this Agreement shall be settled by means of negotiations and consultations.

Article 17

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

Article 18

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

Article 19

This Agreement shall be open for accession by any State admitted to membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

For the acceding state, the present Agreement shall enter into force on the 30th day from the date of the receipt by the Depositary of its instrument of accession.

Article 20

The Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization shall be the Depositary of this Agreement that within 30 days from the date of the signing of this Agreement shall send certified copies thereof to the Parties.

Article 21

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

Article 22

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 by each of the signatory Parties of its internal procedures necessary for its entry into force.

Each Party may withdraw from this Agreement by giving a written notice thereof to the depositary no later than three months before the date of withdrawal. The Depositary shall notify the other Parties of this intention within 30 days from the date of the receipt of such notice.

Done at the city of Bishkek, on August 16, 2007, in a single original, in the Russian and Chinese languages, both texts being equally authentic.

signatures