AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ON THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA ON THE PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS The People’s Republic of China and Bosnia and Herzegovina, (hereinafter referred to as “the Contracting Parties”), Desiring to extend and intensify the economic co-operation between the Contracting Parties on the basis of equality and mutual benefit; Intending to create and maintain favourable conditions for greater investment by investors of one Contracting Party in the territory Recognising that the promotion and reciprocal protection of such investments under this Agreement will be conducive to the stimulation Have agreed as follows: Article 1 Definitions For the purposes of this Agreement: 1. The term “investment” means every kind of asset invested by an investor of one Contracting Party in the territory of the other Contracting a) Movable and immovable property as well as any other property rights such as mortgages, liens, pledges and similar rights; b) Shares in, debentures, stocks and any other form of participation in companies; c) Claims to money or to any performance having an economic value related to an investment; d) Intellectual property rights such as copyrights and neighbouring rights, patents, industrial designs, technological process, trademarks, e) Business concessions conferred by law or under contract permitted by law, including concessions to search for, cultivate, extract Any subsequent change in the form in which assets are invested or reinvested shall not affect their character as investments provided 2. The term “investor” means: a) In respect of Bosnia and Herzegovina: (i)Natural persons deriving their status as Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens from the law in force in Bosnia and Herzegovina if they (ii)Legal persons established in accordance with the laws in force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have their registered seat, central (b) In respect of the People’s Republic of China: (i)Natural persons who have nationality of the People’s Republic of China in accordance with the law of the People’s Republic of China; (ii)Economic entities, including companies, corporations, associations, partnerships and other organizations, incorporated and constituted 3. The term “return” means an amount yielded by an investment in particular, though not exclusively, including royalties or licence fees, 4. The term “territory” means: a) With respect to Bosnia and Herzegovina: all land territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, its territorial sea, whole bed and subsoil and b) With respect to the People’s Republic of China: the territory of the People’s Republic of China, including the territorial sea and Article 2 Promotion and Protection of Investments 1. Either Contracting Party shall encourage and create favourable, stable and transparent conditions for investors of the other Contracting 2. Investments of investors of each Contracting Party shall at all times be accorded fair and equitable treatment and shall enjoy full 3. Subject to its laws and regulations, one Contracting Party shall provide assistance in and facilities for obtaining visas and working Article 3 Treatment of Investment 1. Each Contracting Party shall accord to investments and activities associated with such investments by the investors of the other Contracting 2. Each Contracting Party shall observe any commitments it may have entered into with the investors of the other Contracting Party with 3. If the provisions of law of either Contracting Party or obligations under international law existing at present or established hereafter 4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Article shall not be construed so as to oblige one Contracting Party to extend to the a) agreements establishing customs unions, economic unions, monetary unions or similar institutions, or on the basis of interim agreements b) any international agreements or international arrangements relating wholly or mainly to taxation; c) any international agreement or arrangement for facilitating frontier trade and small scale investments in border areas. Each Contracting Party shall accord to investments and activities associated with such investments by the investors of the other Contracting Article 4 Expropriation 1. Neither Contracting Party shall expropriate, nationalize or take other similar measures (hereinafter referred to as “expropriation”) a) for the public interests; b) under domestic legal procedure; c) without discrimination: d) against compensation. 2. The compensation mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be equivalent to the value of the expropriated investments immediately 3. The affected investors of either Contracting Party shall have a right, under the law of the Contracting Party making the expropriation, Article 5 Compensation for Losses Investors of either Contracting Party who suffer losses including damages in respect of their investments in the territory of the Article 6 Transfers 1. Each Contracting Party shall guarantee to investors of the other Contracting Party the free transfer of payments relating to their a) Initial capital and additional amounts necessary for the maintenance and development of the investment; b) Returns from the investment; c) Funds in repayment of loans related to an investment; d) Proceeds from the total or partial sale or liquidation of an investment: e) Any compensation or other payment referred to in Articles 4 and 5 of this Agreement; f) Payments arising out of the settlement of the disputes; g) Earnings and other remuneration of foreign nationals who work in connection with the investment in the territory of one Contracting 2. Transfers shall be effected without delay in a convertible currency at the market rate of exchange applicable on the date of transfer. 3. Transfers shall be done in accordance with the procedures established by the exchange regulations of the Contracting Party in whose 4. The Contracting Parties undertake to accord to such transfers a treatment no less favourable than that accorded to transfers originating Article 7 Subrogation 1. If either Contracting Party or its designated agency makes payment to the investors of its own State under a guarantee or a contract a) the assignment, whether under the law or pursuant to a legal transaction in that State, of any rights or claim by the investors to b) that the former Contracting Party or its designated agency is enpost_titled by virtue of subrogation to exercise the rights and enforce 2. In the case of subrogation as defined in paragraph 1 of this Article, the investor shall not sue or pursue a claim unless authorised Article 8 Settlement of Disputes between an Investor and a Contracting Party 1. Any dispute between a Contracting Party and an investor of the other Contracting Party, related to an investment, shall be as far 2. If the dispute cannot be settled amicably through negotiations within six months from the date it has been raised by either party -to the competent court of the Contracting Party that is a party to the dispute; or -to the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (the Centre) under the Convention on the Settlement of Disputes Once the investor has submitted the dispute to the jurisdiction of the concerned Contracting Party or to the Centre, the choice of 3. The arbitration award shall be based on: -the provisions of this Agreement; -the laws of the Contracting Party in whose territory the investment has been made including the rules relative to conflict of laws; -the rules and universally accepted principles of international law. 4. The arbitration award shall be final and binding on both parties to the dispute and shall be executed by the Contracting Party concerned. Article 9 Settlement of Disputes between Contracting Parties 1. Disputes between the Contracting Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement should, if possible, be settled 2. If a dispute between the Contracting Parties cannot be settled in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article within six months from 3. Such arbitral tribunal shall be constituted for each individual case in the following way. Within two months from the date of receipt 4. If within the periods specified in paragraph 3 of this Article the necessary appointments have not been made, either Contracting Party 5. The tribunal shall determine its own procedure. The arbitral tribunal shall reach its award in accordance with the provisions of this 6. The arbitral tribunal shall reach its decision by a majority of votes. Such decision shall be final and binding on both Contracting 7. Each Contracting Party shall bear the cost of its own member of the tribunal and of its representation in the arbitral proceedings; Article 10 Application of the Agreement This Agreement shall be applicable to investments made before or after its entry into force by investors of either Contracting Party Article 11 Consultations and Exchange of Information 1. The representatives of the two Contracting Parties shall hold meetings from time to time for the purpose of: a) reviewing the implementation of this agreement: b) exchanging legal information and investment opportunities; c) resolving dispute arising out of investments; d) forwarding proposals on promotion of investment; e) studying other issues in connection with investments. 2. Where either Contracting Party request consultation on any matters of Paragraph 1 of this Article, the other Contracting Party shall Article 12 Entry into Force, Duration and Termination 1. Each Contracting Party shall notify the other in writing of the completion of the internal legal formalities required in its territory 2. This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of ten years after the date of its entry into force and shall continue in force 3. Either Contracting Party may, by giving one year in advance written notice to the other Contracting Party, terminate this Agreement 4. With respect to investments made or acquired prior to the date of termination of this Agreement, the provisions of all other Articles 5. This Agreement may be amended by written agreement between the Contracting Parties. Any amendment shall enter into force under the 6. This Agreement shall be applied irrespective of whether or not the Contracting Parties have diplomatic or consular relations. In witness whereof the undersigned representatives, duly authorised thereto, have signed this Agreement. Done in duplicate at Beijing this 26 day of JUNE in the Chinese, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian and English languages, each text being equally FORFOR THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLICBOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA OF CHINA Protocol to the Agreement between the People’s Republic of China and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the promotion and protection of investments On the signing the Agreement between the People’s Republic of China and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the promotion and protection of Ad Article 3 , paragraph 1 In respect of the People’s Republic of China, paragraph 1 of Article 3 does not apply to: a) any existing non-conforming measures maintained within its territory; b) the continuation of any non-conforming measure referred to in subparagraph a ); c) an amendment to any non-conforming measure referred to in subparagraph a) to the extent that the amendment does not increase the non-conformity It will be endeavoured to progressively remove the non-conforming measures. For the People’s Republic ofFor Bosnia and Herzegovina China |
The Government of the People’s Republic of China
2002-06-26