Joint Declaration of Intent on the
Youth Interns Exchange Programme between
the Government of the People’s Republic of China and
the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany
The Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany (hereinafter referred to as “the Sides”), considering that the experience of international interns exchange functions as a valuable asset for young people, which is conducive to enriching their personal visions, language and cultural knowledge for the purpose of further enhancing their employability, have hereby reached the following understanding:
Section 1
Subject and Purpose
This Joint Declaration of Intent (hereinafter referred to as “this Declaration”) is formulated for the purpose of facilitating the participation of young people from China and Germany in internships in the other side’s country. These internships will enable young people to obtain professional knowledge, skills and workplace experience particularly in the fields of economy, culture, education and science in the other side’s occupational environment.
Section 2
Scope of Interns
The internship exchange programme is aimed at citizens aged at least 18 and under 35 years old from the other side. Potential interns include:
(1) Those students studying in universities and colleges (including undergraduates and candidates who will gain master and doctoral degrees) who have completed at leastfour semesters of higher education;
(2) Those graduates from universities and colleges who have obtained their diplomas for less than 12 months;
(3) Those students studying in technical and vocational schools; and
(4) Those graduates from technical and vocational schools who have graduated for less than 12 months.
Section 3
Duration of the Internship
The internship should last no more than 6 months.
Section 4
Granting of Visas and Work Permits
As to Chinese youth internship participants to Germany, the German side should issue a national German Visa with the words Germany-China Youth Interns Exchange Programme.
As to German youth internship participants to China, the Chinese side should issue a national Chinese Visa with the words China-Germany Youth Interns Exchange Programme.
The Sides will simplify visa application materials and shorten the processing time based on the principle of reciprocity.
Section 5
Internship Conditions and Rules Governing Residence
Both, the host employers and interns, should abide by the relevant laws and regulations in force in the host country. The interns will be entitled to relevant terms and conditions in accordance with the provisions of the host country and should have personal accident insurance and international medical insurance. The usual provisions on residence of the host country should be applied unless otherwise stipulated in this Declaration.
Section 6
Leading Organizer and Coordination Mechanism
The Chinese leading organizer will be the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MoHRSS). The MoHRSS will be responsible for taking the lead in organizing relevant organizations to draft the concrete implementation plan and carrying out external communications and overall co-ordination arrangements.
The German leading organizer will be the Federal Foreign Office. The Federal Foreign Office will be responsible for taking the lead in organizing relevant organizations to draft the concrete implementation plan and carrying out external communications and overall co-ordination arrangements.
Section 7
Implementation Plans
After this Declaration is signed, the Sides should formulate concrete implementation plans in a short period. The interns exchange programme will be launched officially when the implementation plan is signed.
Section 8
Implementation Organization
The Sides and their domestic implementation organizations should encourage enterprises or institutions in the Sides’ countries to regularly provide each other with internship positions that specifically target young people of the other side and facilitate the talent exchange between both Sides. They should also strengthen the promotion of the interns exchange programme at home and encourage enterprises or institutions to provide more internship
The embassies and consulates of the Sides in the counterpart country should issue visas for the participants from the counterpart country among others in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Section 9
Quota
The target number of participants of each side who go to the counterpart country for an internship should be 1.000 each year. The target number could be adjusted when necessary through consultation between the Sides.
Section 10
Evaluation
The Sides should regularly inform each other of the progress of the internship programme and evaluate its implementation.
Section 11
Effectiveness, Period of Applicability, Amendments and Dispute Resolution
After the Sides have completed necessary domestic procedures, they should notify each other through diplomatic channels. The cooperation under this Declaration should commence on the day when the later notification is received.
This Declaration will be applied for one year. If neither side notifies the other side in written form about the purpose of discontinuing the interns exchange programme through diplomatic channels before the end of the one-year term, the application of this Declaration will be automatically extended for another year and so on in accordance with this rule.
At the request of one side, this Declaration may be amended on the basis of written consent of the Sides. The amendments should become applicable in accordance with the procedures set forth in the first paragraph of this section.
Any dispute arising in the interpretation and the process of implementation of this Declaration will be resolved through amicable consultations by the Sides.
This Declaration is signed in Berlin on 9th July, 2018 in duplicate in the Chinese, German and English languages. In case of divergent interpretations of the various languages, the English text should be used.