Beijing aware of the regional and global natures of environmental issues, the urgency to find a cost-effective and lasting solution in addressing these issues through international cooperation and the importance of coordinating the joint activities of the two countries;
Based on goals and principles stated in Rio Declaration on Environment and Development:
Convinced that cooperation between the Contracting Parties in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development is of mutual benefit and will further promote the friendly relations between both countries;
Have agreed upon the following:
The Contracting Parties shall, on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit and taking into account the financial capacities and legal requirements in both countries, implement and develop bilateral cooperative projects concerning environmental protection and reasonable utilization of natural resources.
The Contracting Parties shall conduct cooperative activities mutually agreed upon by the Contracting Parties in the following areas:
- Air pollution control;
- Waste water treatment and water resources management;
-Solid waste management;
-Management and protection of ecologically sensitive areas, such as wetlands, nature reserves and coastal areas;
-Environmental training, education and public participation;
-Legal, institutional and economic aspects of environmental damages;
-Research on environmental sciences and development of environmentally friendly technologies;
-Other areas of cooperation related to environmental protection and improvement as mutually agreed upon.
The cooperation between the Contracting Parties can be conducted in the following means:
1. Exchange of environmental in formation and materials;
2. Exchange visits of experts, scholars, delegations and trainees;
3.Jointly organized seminars, workshops, or meetings attended by scientists, experts regulators and others concerned;
4. Other forms of cooperation as mutually agreed upon.
To implement this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall encourage the environmental agencies, organizations and enterprises in both countries to establish and develop mutual contacts with each other. Neither Contracting Party shall be responsible for any agreement between the above mentioned organizations.
Subject to the applicable laws and legal provisions in each country, the equipment, materials, other assets and services needed for implementing the projects and programs mutually agreed upon by the Contracting Parties within the framework of this Agreement shall be exempt from import duties and taxes.
The Government of the People?s Republic of China appoints the State Environmental Protection Administration and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria appoints the Ministry of Environment and Water as their executing agencies respectively for this Agreement (hereafter referred to as ?the Executing Agencies?).
In order to ensure efficient implementation of this Agreement, to formulate a cooperative program for a designed period of time and to coordinate cooperative activities under this Agreement, the Contracting Parties will set up a Joint Working Group for Sino-Bulgarian environmental cooperation (JWG). Within 6 months after the signing of this Agreement, the Executing Agencies will notify each other about their Chairmen of the JWG.
In principle, the chairmen of the JWG will hold regular meetings once every two years in turn in the People?s Republic of China and the Republic of Bulgaria. The international travel expenses incurred by participation in the above mentioned meetings shall be covered by the sending Party unless otherwise agreed. The in-country expenses related to such meetings shall be covered by the hosting Party on a reciprocal basis.
Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of the Contracting Parties deriving from other bilateral and multilateral agreements in force for the Contracting Parties.
Disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be settled by direct negotiations between the Contracting Parties.
With the consent of the Contracting Parties in written form, modification and supplementation to this Agreement may be done at any time and recorded as Annex, an inseparable part to this Agreement. Modification and supplementation shall enter into force in accordance with Article 10.
This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receiving the second of the notes with which the Contracting Parties notify each other in a diplomatic way of having completed their national legislative requirements for the Agreements? entry into force, and remain in force for five years.
Unless either Contracting Party notifies the other in writing of its intention to terminate this Agreement three months prior to the expiration of the said period, this Agreement shall be automatically extended for another period of five years, and shall thereafter be renewable accordingly.
Singed in Sofia on the 28th day of June, 2000 in duplicate in Chinese, Bulgarian, and English languages, each version being equally authentic. In case of a divergence of interpretation the English text shall prevail.
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