The Government of the People's Republic of Benin and the Government of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as "the Contracting Parties"), desirous of strengthening friendly relations and promoting exchanges between their two countries in the sphere of culture, have decided to conclude the present Agreement, the provisions of which are as follows:

Article 1

The Contracting Parties, in accordance with the principles of equality and mutual benefit, agree to promote exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science, public health, sports, juvenile activities, publication, mass media, cinema and television.

Article 2

The Contracting Parties agree to implement the following exchanges and cooperation in the sphere of culture and art:

(a) Reciprocal visits or other cultural performances of writers, artists, athletes and craftsmen;
(b) Exchange of performing tours by troupes of artists;
(c) Exchange of cultural and art exhibitions.

Article 3

The Contracting Parties agree to implement the following program of exchanges and cooperation in the field of education, art and culture:

(a) Promoting the exchange of visits and lecture tours by teachers, scholars and experts according to needs;
(b) Providing the quota of scholarships to each other's students according to needs and possibilities and encouraging self-paid students to study in each other's country;
(c) Promoting and encouraging the establishment of direct contacts and cooperation between institutions of higher learning of the two countries;
(d) Encouraging the exchanges of textbooks and other educational books and materials between the educational institutions of the two countries;
(e) Encouraging and facilitating the attendance by scholars or experts of each other's country at international academic meetings held in the other country.

Article 4

The Contracting Parties agree to encourage the translation and publication of outstanding works of literature and art of each other's country, and the exchange of books, magazines and other materials on culture and art.

Article 5

The Contracting Parties agree to promote cooperation between sports organizations of the two countries including the exchange where possible, of athletes, coaches and sports teams to each other's country for friendly visits and competitions and for exchange of techniques.

Article 6

The Contracting Parties agree to exchange experiences in the fields of medicine and public health, especially traditional medicine, acupuncture and the like.

Article 7

The Contracting Parties agree to implement the following program of exchanges and cooperation in the fields of the press, broadcasting, television and the cinema:

(a) Encouraging the exchange of visits by journalists, film workers and producers, and the exchange of experiences and films and video-audio programs.
(b) Encouraging the exchange of news, magazines and periodicals between news agencies.

Article 8

The Contracting Parties agree to implement the exchanges in the fields of the social sciences including the exchange of visits and lecture tours by social scientists and exchange of relevant materials.

Article 9

The Contracting Parties shall encourage exchanges and cooperation between the libraries, archives and museums of the two countries.

Article 10

With a view to implementing the present Agreement, the Contracting Parties agree that the annual executive programs and the expenses for the cultural exchanges shall be agreed on separately.

Article 11

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature and shall remain valid for a period of five (5) years. Thereafter it shall be automatically renewed for successive periods of five (5) years unless either Contracting Party requests its termination by written notice to the other served at least six (6) months prior to the date of expiration.

Done in Beijing in June 1984. In duplicate in Chinese and French languages, both texts being equally authentic.