COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ON MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF CONFORMITY ASSES-
SMENT RESULT BETWEEN THE TAIPEI ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL OFFICE,
HANOI, VIETNAM AND THE VIETNAM ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL OFFICE IN
TAIPEI

With an aim of eliminating technical barriers to trade and prom-
oting mutual interests in protecting the rights of consumers by
ensuring the quality and safety of trading products, the Taipei
Economic and Cultural Office, Hanoi, Vietnam, and the Vietnam
Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, hereinafter referred to
as "the Parties"; being guided by the economic interests of both
Parties, have agreed as follows:

Article 1
The Parties shall perform joint activities with an aim of ensur-
ing the quality and safety of products exported or imported bet-
ween them according to related standards, technical documents
and legislative acts that do not adversely affect the interests
of either Party.

Article 2
Cooperation of the Parties shall be based on mutual recognition
between their respective conformity assessment systems, on the
basis of additional agreements, minutes and programs as follows:
(1) Harmonization of each Party's conformity assessment systems
with international norms, guides, recommendations and techn-
ical reports.
(2) Accreditation of testing laboratories of one Party by the
Accreditation System of the other Party.
(3) Training and assessment of auditors.
(4) Exchange of, on a reciprocal basic, standards and other tec-
hnical documents and information regarding legislative acts
that establish requirements for products, as well as updated
information about any revisions or amendments to these docu-
ments.

Article 3
(1) To engage in joint activities on conformity assessment proc-
edures, the Parties shall exchange their respective lists of
products subject to inspection in due time, and in accordan-
ce with procedures mutually agreed upon by the Parties.
(2) The Parties shall inform each other about any alterations or
amendments to their respective lists of products subject to
inspection.

Article 4
Under conditions agreed by both Parties, tests that support cer-
tificates issued by the authority of one Party to products expo-
rted from the other Party may be performed by the latter's test-
ing laboratories that are accredited by the accreditation body
of the former.

Article 5
The expenses for the international travel, accommodation and su-
bsistence of experts carrying out accreditation of testing labo-
ratories and certification bodies shall be paid for by organiza-
tions that apply for accreditation.

Article 6
The fulfillment of the provisions of this Agreement shall not
affect the rights and obligation of the Parties in respect of
other international agreements and treaties.

Article 7
The Parties shall insure confidentiality concerning documents
and information received within the framework of this Agreement.
This information can only be transferred to a third Party after
gaining the written consent of the Party that providing the inf-
ormation.

Article 8
For realizing the provisions of this Agreement, the Parties may
negotiate and conclude additional protocols or exchange of notes
.

Article 9
Any disputes arising from the interpretation and the fulfillment
of this Agreement shall be settled by mutual consultations and
negotiations.

Article 10
(1) This Agreement shall be valid for a period of two years, and
shall be automatically renewed for a further period of two
years unless otherwise amended or terminated in accordance
with Article 11 below.
(2) This Agreement shall come into effect upon signature by both
Parties.

Article 11
(1) This Agreement may be amended by a written agreement or an
exchange of notes of both Parties.
(2) Either Party may terminate this Agreement by providing the
other Party with a written notice at least six months in
advance.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized ther-
eto by their respective authorities, have signed this agreement
in good faith and with mutual goodwill.

Done at Hanoi on August 12, 2004, in duplicate in the Chinese,
Vietnamese and English languages; all texts being equally authe-
ntic. In case of divergent interpretation of this Agreement,
the English text shall prevail.

FOR THE TAIPEI ECONOMIC AND FOR THE VIETNAM ECONOMIC AND
CULTURAL OFFICE, HANOI, CULTURAL OFFICE IN TAIPEI
VIETNAM


By:________________________ By:________________________