The Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
and the Ministry of Labour, Local Government, Rural Development,
and National Emergency Management and Immigration and
Nationality of Belize (hereinafter referred to as “ the Parties
” )

CONSCIOUS of the principle of equality, reciprocity and comity
between States;

RECOGNISING the importance of promoting cooperation between
immigration agencies in both countries;

ACKNOWLEDGING the need for both countries to continue bilateral
cooperation on issues of mutual concern;

DESIROUS of promoting cooperation between immigration agencies
of both countries on the issue of transnational crimes and in
particular human trafficking, through the exchange of
information and promotion of capacity building;

MINDFUL of the impact of human trafficking on both countries

Agree to the following:

Article 1
Competent Authorities
1. The Competent Authorities that conclude and implement the
terms of this MOU shall be The Ministry of the Interior of
the Republic of China(Taiwan) and the Ministry of Labour,
Local Government, Rural Development, and National Emergency
Management and Immigration and Nationality of Belize.
2. The Parties shall engage in exchange and sharing of
information and cooperation in accordance with their
respective domestic laws and national policies.

Article 2
Scope of Cooperation
1. Cooperate in the sharing and exchange of information
pertaining to the prevention of human trafficking, illegal
immigration and other transnational crimes;
2. Cooperate in capacity building related to entry and exit
control;
3. Foster cooperation between immigration agencies as set out in
the preamble of this MOU specifically in relation to human
trafficking, smuggling and other transnational crimes;
4. Foster cooperation in the use of best practices and sharing
of experience in relation to detecting, and resolving cases
of human trafficking, smuggling and other transnational
crimes and explore personnel training on these issues; and
5. Facilitate cooperation on other matters related to human
trafficking, smuggling and other transnational crimes which
may arise from time to time.

Article 3
Forms of Cooperation
For the purpose of effectively enforcing the provisions of
Article 2, the Parties undertake, on the principle of equality,
reciprocity and comity, to cooperate as follows:
1. To facilitate the exchange of information on crimes relating
to human trafficking and other associated crimes;
2. To facilitate official exchange visits;
3. To invite, at each party ’ s discretion, one to three
immigration officers from the other Party to participate in
immigration training held by one of the Parties; and
4. To implement other mutual assistance that might be requested
but is not mentioned above.

Article 4
Request for Assistance
1. The Parties have agreed that requests for assistance shall be
made in writing through formal diplomatic channels.
2. In the event of urgency, an informal note in writing shall be
made to the foreign ministry of the Requested Party but the
official request must be done within ten (10) days of the
informal request.
3. The written request shall include the following content:
a. The name of the department that is making the request
b. The purpose of the request
c. The details of the request
d. The summary of the case
e. Other information necessary for meeting the request
4. In case the request cannot be met due to inadequate
information contained in the request, the Requesting Party
may be required to provide additional information.

Article 5
Request Refusals
The Parties have agreed that in the event the request is
contrary to the constitution, domestic laws, public policy or
national security interest of the Requested Party; the request
shall be refused.

Article 6
Request Fulfillment
1. The Requested Party undertakes to expedite requests for
assistance provided that the requests have compiled with the
provisions of this MOU and laws of the Requested Party. The
Requesting Party shall be informed as soon as practicable
about any information pertaining to the request.
2. The Requested Party shall immediately notify the Requesting
Party through the proper diplomatic channels in circumstances
where it has no authority to satisfy the request.

Article 7
Confidentiality
1. The Parties undertake that all information, documents, and
personal data are kept confidential.
2. In the event that the information is to be used for any
purpose not consistent with this MOU, the Requesting Party
shall obtain the consent of the Requested Party.

Article 8
Expenses
1. The funds needed to cover the expenses for personnel training
as stated in subparagraph 3 of Article 3 shall be decided by
the Parties on a case-by-case basis through bilateral
consultation.
2. All other expenses incurred as a result of requests for
information in accordance with this MOU will be met by the
Requested Party unless otherwise mutually agreed.
3. In circumstances where a request for information requires a
Party to incur additional expenses, the Parties by mutual
consent may make arrangements to defray those expenses.

Article 9
Languages
The Parties hereby agree that English will be the working
language for this MOU.

Article 10
Meetings and Consultations
The representatives of the Parties may hold meetings or conduct
consultations in order to discuss and improve the cooperation to
be carried out in accordance with this MOU.

Article 11
Differences or Misinterpretations
Differences arising with respect to the application of this MOU
shall be resolved through discussions by the Parties.

Article 12
Effectiveness, Termination and Amendments
1. This MOU shall be effective on the date of the signature by
the Parties and shall terminate thirty (30) days after one of
the Parties notifies the other Party in writing of its
termination.
2. This MOU may be amended by the mutual consent of the Parties.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized by
their respective Governments, have signed this Memorandum of
Understanding.

Signed in duplicate at Taipei on the 15th day of August, 2014,
in the Chinese and English languages, both texts being equally
authentic.


FOR THE MINISTRY FOR THE MINISTRY
OF THE INTERIOR OF LABOUR, LOCAL
OF THE REPUBLIC GOVERNMENT,
OF CHINA (TAIWAN) RURAL
DEVELOPMENT,
AND NATIONAL
EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT
AND IMMIGRATION
AND NATIONALITY
OF BELIZE

__________________ __________________
Minister of the Interior Minister responsible
for Immigration and
Nationality

CHEN, WEI-REN SENATOR, HON.
GODWIN HULSE