Educational exchanges between China and Israel have been developed rapidly since the establishment of diplomatic relations of two countries in 1992 and a profound consequence has been achieved between two countries in the fields of academic exchanges as well scientific technological cooperation either through the channels of the governments or educational institutions.

In March 1995, a delegation headed by the former minister of the Ministry of Education Culture and Sport of Israel successfully visited China and signed with the State Commission of Education of China the Memorandum of Intent of Educational Cooperation. In January 1996, Deputy Head of the State Commission of Education of China Dr. Yu Wei headed a high ranking educational delegation visited Israel and participated the Second International Symposium on International Scientific and Technological Education. In March the same year, a delegation of Chinese University Presidents paid a visit to Israeli universities and signed the Memorandum of Cooperation and understanding on Education with 7 Israeli universities and in return a delegation of Israeli University Presidents paid a visit to Chinese counterparts in November 1999. A delegation organized by Bar-Ilan University visited China in September 1998 and signed with China Scholarship Council the Memorandum of Understanding of Barbara and Fred Kort Chinese Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program at Bar-Ilan University. H.E. Ms. Zhili Chen of the Ministry of Education of China successfully visited Israel in April 2000 and signed The Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Education Between The Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Education of the State of Israel.

Meanwhile, there are over 300 Chinese scholars, postdoctoral researches as well as graduates studying at the higher educational and scientific research institutions in Israel and over 100 Israel counterparts have visited or studied in China.


AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION BETWWEN
THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL
（Non－official Version, for reference only）

THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL (hereinafter referred to as the Parties).

WITH A VIEW to strengthening friendly bilateral relationship and to developing cooperation and exchanges in the field of education.

HAVE DECIDED TO sign the following Agreement:

I. The Parties, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, agrees to further develop bilateral cooperation and exchanges in the field of education, especially higher education.

II. Exchanges of Delegations
1. During the valid period of this Agreement, the Parties agree to exchange a 5-6 member Education Delegation for 5-7 day visit, in order to strengthen the links and understanding between the educational administrative departments of both countries and to enhance educational cooperation and exchanges.
2. With a view to strengthening understanding and cooperation between the universities of two countries, during the valid period of the Agreement, the Parties agree to exchange a 5-6 member Delegation of University Rectors (or Presidents), for a visit of 5-7 days.
3. The visiting Party shall bear the international traveling expenses, while the hosting Party shall bear the expenses of the delegation in its country. Detailed arrangements are to be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.

III. Exchange of Students
1. During the valid period of Agreement, the Parties shall exchange five scholarships every year, as agreed in Article 37 of the Executive Program on Cultural Agreement signed on November 1998. The conditions for eligibility and the criteria for awarding the scholarships shall be determined in accordance with the relevant regulations on admission of international students of each country.
2. The Parties shall encourage and facilitate citizens of their own countries in their own country to study, on their own expense, in the other country.
3. The Parties shall encourage related institutions, foundations and universities in their own countries to offer scholarships to students from the other country and to facilitate their study.

IV. Academic Exchange
1. The Parties shall encourage universities, research institutions and key laboratories in their respective countries to cooperate and exchange with their counterparts in the other country, in teaching and research in such hi-tech areas as electronics, biotechnology, material science, energy resources and agriculture. With a view to supporting China’s program for the development of the West China Region, the Chinese Side hopes, in particular, that Israeli universities put emphasis on cooperating with Chinese universities in that region.
2. The Parties shall, based on their own needs, encourage universities in their countries to exchange professors, experts and researchers to teach, give lectures and conduct joint research programs.
3. The Parties shall encourage their universities to update each other with information concerning teaching and scientific research, with teaching materials, books and references, and to collaborate in organizing academic seminars/conferences.

V. Language Teaching
1. The Parties shall encourage and support their universities in the teaching of the language of the other country, by employing language teachers from the other country to teach in their own country and facilitate their work and life.
2. Every year, the Chinese side shall offer one Chinese Lange Teacher’s Training Scholarship with duration of 6 weeks to Israeli Universities and enroll in-service teachers of Chinese language in Israel to study Chinese language teaching methodology in China.

VI. Educational Research
The Parties shall encourage their institutions of educational research to establish direct links, and invite education experts from the other country to attend academic conferences held in their own, so as to exchange with each other the evaluation of achievements and experience in the development of education.

VII. Mutual Recognition of Academic Degrees and Diplomas
The Parties agree, on the basis of further understanding, to sign as soon as possible, an Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Academic Degrees and Diplomas during the period of validity of this Agreement.

VIII. The Parties agree that this Agreement will be implemented in accordance with, and within the framework of, the Executive Program on Cultural Exchange signed on 6 November 1998.
IX. This Agreement shall become effective upon signature.
DONE in Jerusalem on the 12th day of April in the year 2000, which corresponds to the __day of 5760, in the Chinese, Hebrew and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.