Philippines, Czech Republic sign culture, education agreement

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippines and the Czech Republic signed here  today an agreement on cooperation in culture, education, science and sports.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario inked the pact on behalf of the Philippines while Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar represented the Czech Republic.

The agreement was proposed in 2005 and sets the stage for an expanded partnership that would harness the strength and best practices of both countries into a mutually-beneficial cooperation in culture, education, science and sports, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The deal provides a framework for both sides "to strengthen and promote their respective capabilities and institutions covering the above mentioned areas and, in the process, contribute to the overall growth and developments of both countries," the department said.

Upon the entry into force of the agreement, the old cultural agreement between the Philippines and the now-defunct Czechoslovakia, which entered into effect in 1974, will cease to apply.