A G R E E M E N T

BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM ON THE COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

The Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties"),

Understanding the necessity to further develop and strengthen the existing relations between the peoples of the two countries;

Seeking to develop and enhance cooperation in the field of education and science,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The cooperation activities in the field of education and science between the Parties in the framework of this Agreement shall comply with their international obligations and legislation in force in both countries as well as the human resource and financial capacity of the Parties.

Article 2

The designated authority responsible for the implementation of this Agreement on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia shall be the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport and on behalf of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam shall be the Ministry of Education and Training.

Article 3

The Parties shall encourage, within their competence, educational establishments as well as higher education and research institutions to foster and develop direct cooperation relations.

Article 4

1. The Parties shall encourage and support exchange programs for researchers, professors, teaching staff, students and pupils between their States.

2. The exact terms and conditions of the exchange programs shall be regulated by the appropriate agreements between the interested institutions and organizations of the Parties.

Article 5

1. The Parties shall encourage the development and implementation of joint research projects with a view to developing and enhancing scientific cooperation and information exchange in the fields of science and research and experimental development.

2. The exact terms and financial conditions of cooperation in the field of science and technologies shall be regulated by the appropriate agreements among the interested institutions and organizations of the Parties.

Article 6

The Parties shall grant, within their financial capacity, and in accordance with the national legislation, scholarships to pupils, students, teaching staff, professors and researchers from education and research institutions of the other Party. To this end, on an annual basis, each Party shall offer the other Party 05 scholarships for students, teaching staff, professors and researchers to pursue bachelor, master, doctoral programs and internships in its own country. The sending Party or the participant shall take return airfare for the trainees and the receiving Party shall offer tuition exemption, monthly allowance and health insurance to the trainees in accordance with the amount of scholarship awarded by the Government of each Party (inclusive of one year language training if necessary).

Article 7

The Parties shall cooperate with each other in the matters of education and science in the international organizations to which they are members.

Article 8

The Parties shall encourage and support, within their financial capacity, studies and teaching of the official language, literature, history, and culture of each other in their higher education and research institutions and educational establishments, and shall support the exchange of pupils, students, teaching staff, professors and researchers as well as methodological manuals and textbooks.

Article 9

The Parties shall exchange, within their financial capacity, delegations of education and science experts with a view to strengthening their mutual relations, shall exchange work experience and information on the ongoing projects and reforms.

Article 10

1. The Parties shall exchange relevant information to determine the equivalence of qualifications that are granted by their own institutions, as well as to facilitate mutual recognition thereof.

2. The Parties shall encourage consultation and direct cooperation among competent institutions engaged in the process of recognition of qualifications awarded by institutions of the Parties for a separate mutual qualification recognition agreement to be signed by the Parties.

Article 11

The implementation of this Agreement shall not impede the rights and obligations of other international agreements, whereof the Parties are parties and the cooperation with international organizations, whereof the Parties are members.

Article 12

This Agreement may be amended by mutual consents of the Parties. Such amendments shall be formulated in a separate Protocol, which shall form an integral part of this Agreement and shall become effective according to Article 14 of this Agreement.

Article 13

Any disputes concerning the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement shall be settled through negotiations and consultations between the Parties.

Article 14

1. This Agreement shall become effective on the date of receipt of the last written notification by the Parties through diplomatic channels on completion of internal procedures required for its entry into force.

2. This Agreement shall be in effect for the period of five (5) years and the validity period of this Agreement may be automatically extended for further five-year periods, unless any of the Parties notifies the other Party in writing, through diplomatic channels, of its intention to terminate the Agreement at least six (6) months prior to the date of termination.

3. The termination of the Agreement shall not affect the completion of any activity undertaken under the Agreement and not yet completed at the time of the termination of the Agreement.

Done in Hanoi, on July 5 2019, in two original copies, each in Armenian, Vietnamese and English languages, all texts being equally authentic and each Party keeps one copy. In cases of divergence in interpretations of the provisions of the present Agreement, the English language text shall prevail.