Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Government of the United States of America on Facilitating Tourism Teams to Travel to the United States.

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Government of the United States of America on Facilitating Tourism Teams to Travel to the United States.

Article source: National Tourism Administration

The Government of People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Government of the United States of America (hereinafter referred to as "the parties").

I hope that the tourism team in China can make positive contributions to promoting the cooperation and development of tourism between China and the United States;

We are willing to facilitate the China tourism team to travel to the United States, and in accordance with relevant laws and regulations,

Promote the advertising of American tourism products in China;

It is decided that this Memorandum shall comply with the laws and regulations of the two countries, taking into account the following factors:

The United States welcomes China citizens to visit the United States and does not limit the number of visas;

The United States has a mechanism for arranging interviews and accepting visa applications for individuals participating in tourism teams;

Marketing and publicity are important factors to expand the demand of China-US tourism market.

The following understanding is reached on China tourism team's trip to the United States:

The first definition

In this memorandum:

1. "China citizen" refers to the person who has the right to hold the passport of the People's Republic of China.

2. "United States territory" refers to the mainland of the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam and the United States Virgin Islands, hereinafter referred to as "the United States".

Three, "members of the tourism team" or "China tourism team" refers to the use of China National Tourism Administration's "outbound tourism team list" of China tourists to the United States. The list includes names, passport numbers and other identity information, and is kept by China National Tourism Administration and other China government agencies.

Article 2 and scope of application

1. This memorandum is applicable to China tour groups traveling to the United States organized by travel agencies designated by China National Tourism Administration.

Two, to carry out the China tour group to travel to the United States should be organized and implemented in accordance with the provisions and requirements of this memorandum.

Article 3 Visa Procedures

1. Only travel agencies designated by China National Tourism Administration can make a group interview for China citizens participating in tour groups in the United States through the visa information telephone center of the American Embassy and Consulate after obtaining the consent of the competent officials of the visa office of the American Embassy and Consulate in accordance with the procedures of this Memorandum.

Two, China tourism team members visa application should be submitted to embassies and consulates in China; The application materials shall include the information and documents stipulated by American laws and regulations. Travel agencies designated by China National Tourism Administration may submit visa applications to American embassies and consulates on behalf of tourism team members with the approval of the competent officials of the visa offices of American embassies and consulates.

3. embassies and consulates in China, USA will accept the visa application of China tourism team according to American laws, regulations and procedures.

4. The visas of the members of the tourism team can be collected at the designated place of the American embassy or consulate by the visa agent approved by China National Tourism Administration at the designated travel agency.

Article 4 Tourism teams

First, travel agencies and land agencies

(1) Travel agencies designated by the National Tourism Administration

China National Tourism Administration provides embassies and consulates in China with a list of travel agencies designated by China National Tourism Administration, including their names, addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail addresses and contacts.

(2) United States Bureau of Land Management

Land agencies in the United States include reputable travel agencies legally established in the United States by companies or other forms, and conduct legal travel business with travel agencies designated by China National Tourism Administration to ensure the implementation of this Memorandum. The relevant tourism industry associations in the United States provide the China National Tourism Administration with a regularly updated list of American land agencies. The list of American travel agencies should include the name, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and contact person of the travel agency.

Travel agencies of both parties shall select business partners from the list provided by the other party and sign business contracts.

If there is any change in the list of travel agencies of both sides, China National Tourism Administration and relevant American tourism industry associations will notify each other in writing.

Second, the protection of the rights and interests of tourists in China.

The corresponding laws of China and the United States shall apply to China citizens who travel to the United States from China and their legitimate rights and interests.

Third, the tour leader and tour guide.

According to the provisions of this Memorandum, China National Tourism Administration designates a travel agency to appoint a tour leader for each China team traveling to the United States.

American travel agencies should provide tour guide services for China tourism teams during their stay in the United States. The tour guide should accompany the tour group all the time, and negotiate with the tour leader of China to solve any problems in the tour.

Article 5 Advertising and marketing activities

1. China National Tourism Administration and the U.S. Department of Commerce are willing to cooperate with each other to facilitate the establishment of non-profit representative offices in China by tourism organizations from various States and regions in the United States who wish to publicize their tourist destinations to the public in China.

Second, tourism organizations, trade associations and enterprises in American tourist destinations can carry out advertising and marketing activities in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Permitted advertising and marketing activities include, but are not limited to, launching travel products to the United States with China Travel Agency, participating in travel exhibitions, and advertising in various media including print and electronic media.

Article 6 Exchange of information

1. In order to ensure the smooth and orderly travel of the China tourism team to the United States, the relevant departments of both sides will exchange information and data in time under the framework of the Tourism Working Group of the China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, and make joint efforts to improve the tourism business level of the China tourism team to the United States.

2. Either party may request to discuss the implementation of this Memorandum of Understanding with the other party, and properly solve the problems arising from the implementation of this Memorandum.

Article 7 Entry into force, implementation and termination

1. This Memorandum shall come into force as of the date of signing.

2. China has designated China National Tourism Administration, and the United States has designated the Ministry of Commerce as the department to supervise the implementation of this Memorandum.

3. If either party wants to terminate this Memorandum, it shall notify the other party in writing to terminate this Memorandum. This memorandum will be terminated after three months from the date of notification.

This Memorandum was signed in Beijing on February, 2007 in duplicate, each in Chinese and English, both texts being equally authentic.

People's Republic of China (PRC) municipal government

Government of the United States of America

represent

represent