Chapter I   General Provisions

Article 1   The Name of the Alliance

1.1 Full name of the Alliance in Chinese: 中国-拉丁美洲农业教育科技创新联盟

1.2 Full name of the Alliance in English:  China-Latin America Agricultural Education and Research Innovation Alliance

1.3 Acronym for the Alliance：CLAERIA

Article 2   Purpose

The Alliance, by upholding the spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefits and win-win reciprocity, shall be committed to facilitating cooperation among members in talent cultivation, personnel training, scientific research, technical extension, cultural exchange and policy communication. The Alliance shall promote mutual benefits and seek common development in agricultural education and research in China and Latin America through the establishment of cooperation platforms, enhancement of cooperation mechanisms and boost of resources sharing.

Article 3   Characters

The Alliance, proposed by South China Agricultural University and co-initiated by voluntarily joining agriculture-related universities, research institutes and enterprises in China and Latin America, is a non-government, non profit, international and multilateral cooperation platform.

Chapter II   Organizational Structures

There are established as principal organs of the Alliance: General Assembly of Members, Council and Secretariat. The General Assembly of Members is the highest authority of the Alliance; The Council is a permanent body of the Alliance, and the Secretariat is the executive body of the Council.

Article 4   General Assembly of Members

4.1 The General Assembly of Members is the highest decision-making authority of the Alliance;

4.2  Duties of the Council：

a) Formulating and revising the Alliance charter;

b) Reviewing and approving the work report of the Alliance;

c) Approving and canceling the membership of the Alliance;

d) Electing, appointing and removing chairman of the Alliance and the Secretary General;

e) Reviewing, approving and revising the internal management system of the Alliance;

f)  Deciding on the change and termination of the Alliance organization;

g) Deciding on the establishment or withdrawal of the Secretariat's institutions;

h) Discussing and deciding on other major issues.

4.3 The General Assembly of Members shall be convened every four years. Members are eligible to apply for hosting the General Assembly of Members. Matters regarding the Assembly such as location and topics shall be determined through discussion between the Executive Council and hosting member(s).

Article 5   Executive Council

5.1 The Executive Council, an organ operating under the Alliance, is responsible for the Alliance’s routine management. It shall be elected and approved at the General Assembly of Members, and shall exercise management and other obligations required in the Charter when the General Assembly of Members is not in session;

5.2 The Executive Council shall be appointed for a term of five years;

5.3 The chairman shall be the person in charge of the organization unit sponsored by the Alliance; if a member of the Council is dismissed from his/her original work unit during his/her tenure, he/she shall be regarded as automatically resign his/her position at the Council, and his/her sending unit shall designate a new candidate to replace the predecessor. With the consent of the Council, the new candidate can host the position until the next election of the Council.

5.4 The Council meets once a year and is convened by the chairperson of the Council, which may be increased, advanced or delayed if necessary. When the chairperson is unable to perform his/her duties, other members entrusted by him/her and approved by the chairperson shall act on his/her behalf. The attendance of more than 2/3 of the members of the Council shall be held and the system of one person, one vote shall be implemented, and the matters examined and approved by all the members present or by more than 1/2 of the representatives of the members shall take effect only if they are approved by all the members present or by their representatives.

5.5 The Executive Council shall enhance friendly exchange and cooperation among the members, and organize the academic activities.

Article 6   Secretariat

The Secretariat under the Alliance shall be responsible for the routine operations of the Executive Council. The Secretariat is located at South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou,China. The Secretary-General shall be nominated by the Director-General, elected by the Council and appointed by the chairperson.

Chapter III   Membership

Article 7   Founding Members

The institutions which co-initiated the Alliance shall be the founding members.

Article 8   Admitted Members

Other institutions that intend to join the Alliance shall submit applications to the Secretariat of the Alliance. The membership shall be granted upon the approval of two-thirds of members in the Executive Council.

Applying for membership in the Alliance shall submit the following application materials:

a) Written application;

b) Introducing materials of the unit and business license of legal person (copies consistent with the original check);

c) Written reports on the development of innovation research, technology development and promotion, and training of innovative talents in the relevant technical fields of the Alliance.

d) The commitment of the unit to join the Alliance.

Article 9   Rights of the Members

9.1 Sharing information resources such as policies, technology and documentations possessed by the Alliance;

9.2 Participating in the General Assembly of Members and other activities as well as organizing the relevant activities of the Alliance;

9.3 Making recommendations to the Executive Council and the General Assembly of Members, and participating discussions on relevant issues;

9.4 Making suggestions to and supervision on the Alliance;

9.5 Indicating the membership of the Alliance to the appropriate media or in relevant activities;

9.6 Using badges, logos or other signs of the Alliance properly without harms to the interests of the Alliance and members of the Alliance.

9.7 The right to withdraw from the Alliance.

Article 10   Obligations of the Members

10.1 Abiding the articles of the Charter and protecting reputation of the Alliance;

10.2 Participating in activities organized by the Alliance in line with its regulations;

10.3 Providing information and document required by the Alliance; Conserving relevant intellectual property rights and/or technical secrets shared by the alliance;

10.4 Actively participating in the construction of key scientific and technological projects or innovation platforms organized by the alliance; promote and implement the sharing of resources within the alliance; increase the actual investment in technological innovation, carry out innovative collaboration and promote the transformation of achievements;

10.5 Not engaging in activities which affect the reputations and interests of other members; members of the Alliance shall not conduct any activities or business in the name of the Alliance without the written permission of the Alliance; any member of the Alliance who violates this Agreement and causes any losses to the Alliance or other members of the Alliance shall be liable for full compensation;

10.6 Supporting the Secretariat and accepting the coordination of the Secretariat; appointing a dedicated person to contact the Secretariat and provide timely information and information to the Alliance; notifying the Secretariat within 30 working days of any change in the means of communication and contacts of member units.

Article 11 The Alliance does not provide any guarantee for the behaviors by its members, and does not take any responsibility for the consequences caused by their inappropriate behaviors.

Article 12   Withdrawal from the Alliance

12.1 When a member of the Alliance withdraws from the Alliance, he shall submit a written application to the Secretariat 30 working days in advance. The Secretariat notifies the Council within 7 working days after receiving the written application. The board of directors shall discuss and adopt a resolution and inform the members of the Alliance.

12.2 Members who voluntarily withdraw from the Alliance shall continue to perform the contracts and agreements signed before withdrawal until the completion of the performance of the contracts or agreements or termination by consensus of the signatories.

12.3  In order to ensure the representativeness and advancement of the Alliance, the Secretariat proposes that, after discussion and adoption by the Board of Directors, it is possible to rationally eliminate some of the Alliance units that are weak in implementing the Alliance projects or whose research and development results are not obvious.

Chapter IV   Funding

Article 13 The operating expenses including website construction and maintenance, communications and liaison, etc. shall be provided by the Council;

Article 14 The Secretariat shall be responsible for the daily operating expenses of the Alliance.

Article 15 Research funds shall be applied by members to their own national authorities or to related international organizations, and shall by implemented according to specific regulations of the research programs.

Article 16 The costs incurred during the General Assembly of Members, forums, or other activities of the Alliance, which include meeting room rent, facility, documents, translation, stationery, local transportation, tour and banquets etc., shall be raised by the hosting member, along with possible sponsorship from enterprises or other institutions. Members who attend the aforementioned events shall cover their expenses of international travel and accommodation.

Chapter V   Scope of Cooperation

Article 17 Personnel Training

Training programs include: international student education, faculty training, student joint training, joint-running educational programs, etc.

Article 18 Scientific Research and Technical Extension

The Alliance shall organize forums, seminars on a regular basis and jointly launch multi-functional innovation platforms and technology extension platforms. Priority areas shall focus on healthy aquaculture, food safety, healthy animal husbandry, mitigation and adaptation to global climate change, ecological environment construction, water-saving agriculture, agricultural machinery, and agricultural history etc.

The collaborative parties shall negotiate and reach agreements on benefit-sharing of the research achievement, patents, intellectual property and other property rights as well as interests of the collaborative research directed from the Alliance.

Article 19 People-to-People Exchange

The Alliance, by adhering to the principle of equality and mutual trust and respecting specific ethnic and religious customs in regional countries, shall deepen people-to-people exchanges through such cultural events such as knowledge contests, cultural experience activities, sports competitions and arts festivals, etc.

Article 20  Policy Communication

Members are encouraged to provide advice on agricultural policies and mutual learning for policy-makers in regional countries by conducting collaborative agricultural laws and policy research.

Chapter VI   Supplementary Provisions

Article 21

a) The Charter will take effect upon the approval of the General Assembly of Members of the Alliance.

b) Revision of the Charter shall be approved by the General Assembly of Members.

c) Members of the Alliance shall abide by the Charter. In case of breach of the Charter, corresponding legal liability shall be borne.

d) All notices, documents and materials issued or provided by the parties to the Alliance in accordance with the implementation of the Articles of Association shall be contacted at the address, fax, telephone, e-mail or contact person registered with the Secretariat. Notify the relevant parties 15 days in advance.

Article 22 If the Alliance needs to be revoked due to termination, dissolution or separation, merger, etc., it shall be proposed by the Secretariat and approved by the Board of Directors and approved by more than four-fifths (including).

Article 23 Before the termination of the Alliance, it is necessary to organize Alliance liquidation, clear up creditor's rights and debts, and handle the aftermath.

Article 24 The Secretariat of the Alliance reserves the right to the interpretation of this Charter.