Monday, January 15th, 2018
BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND FORESTRY OF THE KINGDOM OF TONGA AND THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION OF QUALITY SUPERVISION, INSPECTION AND QUARANTINE OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF ENTRY AND EXIT ANIMAL AND PLANT INSPECTION AND QUARANTINE
The Memorandum of Understanding took place on the 13th Nov, 2017 Maff’s Headquarter, with a view to effectively preventing the entry and spread of pests and epidemic diseases of animals and plants from one contracting Party into the other, protecting the production of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and encouraged by the common will to promote and strengthen bilateral exchange and cooperation in the field of entry and exit animal and plant inspection and quarantine, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry of the Kingdom of Tonga and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as “the Parties”), after consultation, have reached an understanding as follows:
Article 1- General Provisions
The Parties shall strengthen and promote bilateral cooperation in the field of entry and exit animal and plant inspection and quarantine. Activities under this Memorandum of understanding shall be in accordance with the respective laws and regulations of each Party, without prejudice to the rights and obligations pursuant to other signed international agreements.
Article 2- Content and Mode of Cooperation
The parties agree to:
Article 3- Implementation
Article 4- Financial Arrangements
The Parties shall mobilize the fund for their own respective participation in activities carried out under this Memorandum of understanding, including expenses of travel and accommodations, unless they make other arrangements.
Article 5- Settlement of Disputes
In case of disagreement or dispute arising from the interpretation, implementation and/or application of this Memorandum of understanding, the Parties agree to resolve it through friendly consultation. This Memorandum of understanding may be amended or supplemented at any time upon mutual agreement of the Parties in writing.
Article 6- Application, Expiry Date and Termination
This Memorandum of understanding shall enter into force on the date it has been duly signed and shall be valid for a period of five years. It shall be automatically extended for another period of five years unless one Party requests its termination by notifying the other Party in writing six months prior to the date of expiration.
This MOU is signed on November 13th, in Nukualofa, in duplicate, each in Chinese and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence in interpretation, the English text shall prevail.