Focus on Cyprus immigration and Sino-Cyprus regulations:
(August 29, 1990)
The Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus (hereinafter referred to as "the Contracting Parties"), in order to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries, enhance economic ties, develop maritime cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, and promote the development of maritime undertakings in both countries, have reached the following agreement:
Article 1
The Contracting Parties agree to cooperate on the basis of the principles of equality, mutual benefit, and freedom of navigation to develop maritime relations between the two countries.
Article 2
In this agreement:
1. "Vessels" refers to commercial ships operated by shipping enterprises registered and flying the flag of either Contracting Party in accordance with the laws and regulations applicable within that Party's territory, or chartered vessels with flags acceptable to the other Contracting Party, rented by shipping enterprises that have business establishments within the territory of either Contracting Party.
2. "Crew" refers to all personnel, including the captain, who are actually employed on board to perform duties during a voyage according to a contract and are listed on the crew list.
3. "Ports" refers to seaports that are open to international shipping according to the laws and regulations of either Contracting Party, including anchorages.
4. "Territory" refers to:
(1) The territory under the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China;
(2) The territory under the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus.
Article 3
1. The Contracting Parties shall:
(1) Promote the participation of vessels from both countries in the transportation of goods between the two countries;
(2) Cooperate in eliminating obstacles that may complicate shipping between the ports of both Parties;
(3) Support measures for the effective mutual utilization of their vessels in the transportation of goods with third countries as much as possible;
(4) Cooperate in the employment of crew members and improve the working conditions and welfare of each other's crew members on board.
2. The provisions of this article do not affect the rights of vessels flying the flag of a third country to participate in the transportation of goods between the ports of the Contracting Parties.
3. The Contracting Parties encourage shipping enterprises from both countries to engage in maritime cooperation, and shipping enterprises from one Contracting Party may enter into relevant maritime technical and commercial agreements and contracts with corresponding enterprises from the other Contracting Party.
Article 4
One Contracting Party shall provide vessels, crew, and goods of the other Contracting Party with various fees or services at least equal to those provided to any third country.
(1) Berthing and unberthing of vessels in ports, loading and unloading;
(2) Pilotage and towing services, as well as the use of canals, locks, bridges, signals, and navigation lights;
(3) Use and services of cranes, weighbridges, warehouses, shipyards, docks, and repair shops;
(4) Supply of fuel, lubricants, fresh water, and food;
(5) Medical and health services.
Article 5
Shipping enterprises registered and having their headquarters (i.e., actual management institutions) in the territory of one Contracting Party that operate international transport with vessels (including vessels chartered from third countries) shall be exempt from any taxation in the territory of the other Contracting Party, provided that they present a certificate issued by the maritime authority of the other Contracting Party.
Article 6
The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures within the limits allowed by their national laws and regulations to reduce unnecessary delays of vessels in ports and to simplify port, customs, and health quarantine procedures as much as possible.
Article 7
1. One Contracting Party shall recognize the nationality of vessels of the other Contracting Party based on the ship certificates issued by the competent authorities of the other Contracting Party in accordance with its national laws and regulations.
2. One Contracting Party shall accept ship documents issued or recognized by the competent authorities of the other Contracting Party, including tonnage certificates and documents related to crew members.
Article 8
One Contracting Party shall recognize the crew identity documents issued to its nationals by the competent authorities of the other Contracting Party and grant the holders of such documents the rights specified in Articles 9 and 10 of this agreement.
These identity documents are:
The People's Republic of China issues "Seafarer Certificates";
The Republic of Cyprus issues "Seafarer Certificates" and passports issued by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
Article 9
1. Crew members holding the crew identity documents referred to in Article 8 of this agreement, who are listed on the crew list of a vessel docked in the port of the other Contracting Party, may go ashore for a short stay without the need for a visa.
2. The personnel mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article shall comply with local border, customs, and other legal regulations when landing and returning to the vessel.
Article 10
1. Crew members of one Contracting Party holding the crew identity documents specified in Article 8 of this agreement shall be allowed by the other Contracting Party to enter, exit, or transit as passengers using any means of transport for any reason acceptable to the other Contracting Party, whether for boarding, transferring to another vessel, being repatriated, or other reasons.
2. In all cases specified in paragraph 1 of this article, if the crew member is a national of one Contracting Party, no visa is required.
3. If the crew member of a vessel of one Contracting Party is not a national of either Contracting Party and must hold a visa from the competent authorities of the other Contracting Party, the competent authorities of the other Contracting Party shall approve the corresponding visa in the shortest possible time.
Article 11
Both Contracting Parties have the right to refuse entry to their territory of any crew member they consider undesirable.
Article 12
Both Contracting Parties agree to provide technical assistance to each other in the development of merchant fleets, including crew training, whenever possible.
Article 13
1. Shipowners of one Contracting Party may employ qualified nationals of the other Contracting Party to ensure that their merchant ships registered in their country are safely manned, in accordance with their relevant laws. The conditions for employing such nationals on vessels registered in the other Contracting Party shall be approved by the competent authorities of the crew member's country and, if possible, consulted with the national seafarers' union or association of that country, and shall be specified in the employment contract. Both Contracting Parties shall make their utmost efforts to ensure compliance with these employment conditions.
2. Any disputes arising between shipowners of one Contracting Party and crew members of the other Contracting Party due to employment contracts shall be submitted solely to the courts or authorities with jurisdiction in the country of nationality of the crew member that signed and approved the employment contract.
3. Both Contracting Parties shall encourage, support, and promote cooperation between qualified institutions, organizations, and agencies in both countries in the field of crew training to improve the training standards of senior and ordinary crew members on board.
Article 14
Maritime organizations and enterprises registered, operating, and having registered institutions in the territory of one Contracting Party may establish permanent representative offices in the territory of the other Contracting Party in accordance with its laws and regulations.
Article 15
1. The income obtained by shipping enterprises of one Contracting Party in the territory of the other Contracting Party shall be settled in freely convertible currencies mutually acceptable to both Contracting Parties. This income may be used to pay expenses in the territory of the other Contracting Party or freely remitted out of that country.
2. Nationals of one Contracting Party shall receive fair and equal treatment and protection in the territory of the other Contracting Party.
3. One Contracting Party shall allow crew members of the other Contracting Party to legitimately transfer their personal legitimate income.
Article 16
One Contracting Party shall allow representatives of government officials or diplomats dispatched by the other Contracting Party, as well as representatives of permanent representative offices of shipping enterprises registered in the other Contracting Party, to enter its ports and board vessels flying the flag of the other Contracting Party or chartered by enterprises of the other Contracting Party to perform tasks related to the activities of these vessels and their crew members.
Article 17
1. If a vessel of one Contracting Party has an accident, runs aground, is stranded, or suffers any other incident in the territorial waters of the other Contracting Party, the other Contracting Party shall provide assistance and all possible help and care to the distressed vessel, crew, and passengers and cargo on board, equivalent to that provided to its own vessels.
2. The other Contracting Party shall exempt from all taxes any cargo, equipment, materials, and other items salvaged from the distressed vessel of the one Contracting Party as mentioned in paragraph 1 of this article, unless these items are used or sold within the territory of the other Contracting Party.
3. The provisions of paragraph 2 of this article shall not be understood as affecting the other Contracting Party's enforcement of its laws and regulations regarding the temporary storage of goods on its territory.
4. The competent authorities of one Contracting Party shall immediately notify the nearest diplomatic representative of the other Contracting Party in the event of an accident involving a vessel of the other Contracting Party in its territorial waters as described in paragraph 1 of this article and shall organize an investigation into the cause of the accident or provide all possible assistance for such an investigation.
Article 18
Notwithstanding the provisions of this agreement, vessels of shipping enterprises of one Contracting Party, including those operated under charter, shall not enter ports of the other Contracting Party that are not open to international shipping.
Article 19
Vessels of one Contracting Party shall not participate in coastal transportation of the other Contracting Party.
Article 20
The provisions of this agreement shall not affect the rights and obligations of either Contracting Party under relevant international maritime conventions applicable to the contracting states.
Article 21
To review the implementation of this agreement and discuss other shipping issues of mutual interest, the Contracting Parties may send representatives to meet on mutually agreed dates and locations.
Article 22
If there are differences between the Contracting Parties regarding the interpretation or implementation of this agreement, they shall be resolved through friendly consultations between the representatives of the Contracting Parties.
Article 23
The competent authorities responsible for the implementation of this agreement for both Contracting Parties are:
-- The People's Republic of China is represented by the Ministry of Transport;
-- The Republic of Cyprus is represented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Article 24
1. This agreement shall come into effect thirty days after the last notification is sent by either Contracting Party upon completion of their respective legal procedures.
2. This agreement shall be valid for three years. If neither Contracting Party provides written notice to terminate this agreement six months before its expiration, the validity of this agreement shall be automatically extended for another three years and shall continue to be extended in this manner.
This agreement was signed in Beijing on August 29, 1990, in two copies, each written in Chinese, Greek, and English, all texts having equal validity.