(Adopted at the Tenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Sixth National People’s Congress and promulgated by Order No. 22 of
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER II THE CONCLUSION OF CONTRACTS
CHAPTER III THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS AND LIABILITY FOR BREACH OF A CONTRACT
CHAPTER IV THE ASSIGNMENT OF CONTRACTS
CHAPTER V THE MODIFICATION, RESCISSION AND TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS
CHAPTER VI THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
CHAPTER VII SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1. This Law is formulated with a view to protecting the lawful rights and interests of the parties to Chinese-foreign economic contracts Article 2. This Law shall apply to economic contracts concluded between enterprises or other economic organizations of the People’s Republic Article 3. Contracts shall be concluded according to the principle of equality and mutual benefit and the principle of achieving agreement Article 4. In concluding a Contract,the parties must abide by the law of the People’s Republic of China and shall not harm the public interest Article 5. The parties to a contract may choose the proper law applicable to the settlement of contract disputes. In the absence of such a The law of the People’s Republic of China shall apply to contracts that are to be performed within the territory of the People’s Republic For matters that are not covered in the law of the People’s Republic of China, international practice shall be followed. Article 6. Where an international treaty which is relevant to a contract, and to which the People’s Republic of China is a contracting party
CHAPTER II THE CONCLUSION OF CONTRACTS Article 7. A contract shall be formed as soon as the parties to it have reached a written agreement on the terms and have signed the contract. Contracts which are subject to the approval of the state, as provided for by the laws or administrative regulations of the People’s Article 8. Appendices specified in a contract shall be integral parts of the contract. Article 9. Contracts that violate the law or the public interest of the People’s Republic of China shall be void. In case any terms in a contract violate the law or the public interest of the People’s Republic of China, the validity of the contract Article 10. Contracts that are concluded by means of fraud or duress shall be void. Article 11. A party which is responsible for the invalidity of a contract shall be liable for the losses suffered by the other party as a result Article 12. A contract shall, in general, contain the following terms: (1) the corporate or personal names of the contracting parties and their nationalities and principal places of business or domicile; (2) the date and place of the signing of the contract; (3) the type of contract and the kind and scope of the object of the contract; (4) the technical conditions, quality, standard, specifications and quantity of the object of the contract; (5) the time limit, place and method of performance; (6) the terms of price, amount and method of payment, and various incidental charges; (7) whether the contract is assignable or, if it is, the conditions for its assignment; (8) liability to pay compensation and other liabilities for breach of the contract; (9) the ways for settling contract disputes; and (10) the language(s) in which the contract is written and its validity. Article 13. So far as it may require, a contract shall provide for the limits of the risks to be borne by the parties in performing the object; Article 14. Where a contract needs to be performed continuously over a long period, the parties shall set a period of validity for the contract Article 15. In the contract the parties may agree to provide a guaranty. The guarantor shall be held liable within the agreed scope of guaranty.
CHAPTER III THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS AND LIABILITY FOR BREACH OF A CONTRACT Article 16. A contract shall be legally binding as soon as it is established in accordance with the law. The parties shall perform their obligations Article 17. A party may temporarily suspend its performance of the contract if it has conclusive evidence that the other party is unable to Article 18. If a party fails to perform the contract or its performance of the contractual obligations does not conform to the agreed terms, Article 19. The liability of a party to pay compensation for the breach of a contract shall be equal to the loss suffered by the other party Article 20. The parties may agree in a contract that, if one party breaches the contract, it shall pay a certain amount of breach of contract The breach of contract damages as stipulated in the contract shall be regarded as compensation for the losses resulting from breach Article 21. If both parties breach the contract, each shall be commensurately liable for the breach of contract that is its responsibility. Article 22. A party which suffers losses resulting from a breach of contract by the other party shall promptly take appropriate measures to Article 23. If a party fails to pay on time any amount stipulated as payable in the contract or any other amount related to the contract that Article 24. If a party is prevented from performing all or a part of its obligations due to force majeure, it shall be relieved of all or a If a party cannot perform its obligations within the contractually agreed time limit due to an event of force majeure, it shall be An event of force majeure means an event that the parties could not have foreseen at the time of conclusion of the contract, both The scope of force majeure events may be specified in the contract. Article 25. The party which fails to perform wholly or in part its contractual obligations due to an event of force majeure shall promptly inform
CHAPTER IV THE ASSIGNMENT OF CONTRACTS Article 26. When a party assigns, wholly or in part, its contractual rights and obligations to a third party, it must obtain the consent of Article 27. In the case of a contract which, according to the laws or administrative regulations of the People’s Republic of China, is to be
CHAPTER V THE MODIFICATION, RESCISSION AND TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS Article 28. A contract may be modified if both parties agree through consultation. Article 29. A party shall have the right to notify the other party that a contract is rescinded in any of the following situations: (1) if the other party has breached the contract, thus adversely affecting the economic benefits they expected to receive at the time (2) if the other party fails to perform the contract within the time limit agreed upon in the contract, and again fails to perform (3) if all the obligations under the contract cannot be performed due to an event of force majeure; or (4) if the contractually agreed conditions for the rescission of the contract are present. Article 30. For a contract consisting of several parts that are independent from each other, some of them may be rescinded according to the Article 31. A contract shall be terminated in any one of the following situations: (1) if the contract has already been performed in accordance with the agreed terms; (2) if an arbitration body or a court has decided that the contract shall be terminated; or (3) if the parties agree through consultation to terminate the contract. Article 32. Notices or agreements on the modification or rescission of contracts shall be made in writing. Article 33. In the case of a contract which, according to the laws or administrative regulations of the People’s Republic of China, is to be Article 34. The modification, rescission or termination of a contract shall not affect the rights of the parties to claim damages. Article 35. The contractually agreed terms for the settlement of disputes shall not become invalid because of the rescission or termination Article 36. The contractually agreed terms for the settlement of accounts and liquidation of a contract shall not become invalid because of
CHAPTER VI THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES Article 37. If disputes over a contract develop, the parties shall, as far as possible, settle them through consultation, or through mediation If the parties are unwilling to settle their dispute through consultation or mediation, or if consultation or mediation proves unsuccessful, Article 38. If no arbitration clause is provided in the contract, and a written arbitration agreement is not reached afterwards, the parties
CHAPTER VII SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS Article 39. The time limit for filing a suit or applying for arbitration in respect of a dispute over a contract for the purchase and sale of Article 40. If new legal provisions are formulated while contracts for Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures, Chinese-foreign contractual joint Article 41. This Law may apply to contracts concluded before it goes into effect, if this is agreed by the parties through consultation. Article 42. The State Council shall, in accordance with this Law, formulate rules for its implementation. Article 43. This Law shall go into effect on July 1, 1985.
LAW OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON ECONOMIC CONTRACTS INVOLVING FOREIGN INTEREST (Adopted at the Tenth Session of the Standing Committee of the Sixth National People’s Congress and promulgated by Order No. 22 of
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER II THE CONCLUSION OF CONTRACTS
CHAPTER III THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS AND LIABILITY FOR BREACH OF A CONTRACT
CHAPTER IV THE ASSIGNMENT OF CONTRACTS
CHAPTER V THE MODIFICATION, RESCISSION AND TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS
CHAPTER VI THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
CHAPTER VII SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1. This Law is formulated with a view to protecting the lawful rights and interests of the parties to Chinese-foreign economic contracts Article 2. This Law shall apply to economic contracts concluded between enterprises or other economic organizations of the People’s Republic Article 3. Contracts shall be concluded according to the principle of equality and mutual benefit and the principle of achieving agreement Article 4. In concluding a Contract,the parties must abide by the law of the People’s Republic of China and shall not harm the public interest Article 5. The parties to a contract may choose the proper law applicable to the settlement of contract disputes. In the absence of such a The law of the People’s Republic of China shall apply to contracts that are to be performed within the territory of the People’s Republic For matters that are not covered in the law of the People’s Republic of China, international practice shall be followed. Article 6. Where an international treaty which is relevant to a contract, and to which the People’s Republic of China is a contracting party
CHAPTER II THE CONCLUSION OF CONTRACTS Article 7. A contract shall be formed as soon as the parties to it have reached a written agreement on the terms and have signed the contract. Contracts which are subject to the approval of the state, as provided for by the laws or administrative regulations of the People’s Article 8. Appendices specified in a contract shall be integral parts of the contract. Article 9. Contracts that violate the law or the public interest of the People’s Republic of China shall be void. In case any terms in a contract violate the law or the public interest of the People’s Republic of China, the validity of the contract Article 10. Contracts that are concluded by means of fraud or duress shall be void. Article 11. A party which is responsible for the invalidity of a contract shall be liable for the losses suffered by the other party as a result Article 12. A contract shall, in general, contain the following terms: (1) the corporate or personal names of the contracting parties and their nationalities and principal places of business or domicile; (2) the date and place of the signing of the contract; (3) the type of contract and the kind and scope of the object of the contract; (4) the technical conditions, quality, standard, specifications and quantity of the object of the contract; (5) the time limit, place and method of performance; (6) the terms of price, amount and method of payment, and various incidental charges; (7) whether the contract is assignable or, if it is, the conditions for its assignment; (8) liability to pay compensation and other liabilities for breach of the contract; (9) the ways for settling contract disputes; and (10) the language(s) in which the contract is written and its validity. Article 13. So far as it may require, a contract shall provide for the limits of the risks to be borne by the parties in performing the object; Article 14. Where a contract needs to be performed continuously over a long period, the parties shall set a period of validity for the contract Article 15. In the contract the parties may agree to provide a guaranty. The guarantor shall be held liable within the agreed scope of guaranty.
CHAPTER III THE PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACTS AND LIABILITY FOR BREACH OF A CONTRACT Article 16. A contract shall be legally binding as soon as it is established in accordance with the law. The parties shall perform their obligations Article 17. A party may temporarily suspend its performance of the contract if it has conclusive evidence that the other party is unable to Article 18. If a party fails to perform the contract or its performance of the contractual obligations does not conform to the agreed terms, Article 19. The liability of a party to pay compensation for the breach of a contract shall be equal to the loss suffered by the other party Article 20. The parties may agree in a contract that, if one party breaches the contract, it shall pay a certain amount of breach of contract The breach of contract damages as stipulated in the contract shall be regarded as compensation for the losses resulting from breach Article 21. If both parties breach the contract, each shall be commensurately liable for the breach of contract that is its responsibility. Article 22. A party which suffers losses resulting from a breach of contract by the other party shall promptly take appropriate measures to Article 23. If a party fails to pay on time any amount stipulated as payable in the contract or any other amount related to the contract that Article 24. If a party is prevented from performing all or a part of its obligations due to force majeure, it shall be relieved of all or a If a party cannot perform its obligations within the contractually agreed time limit due to an event of force majeure, it shall be An event of force majeure means an event that the parties could not have foreseen at the time of conclusion of the contract, both The scope of force majeure events may be specified in the contract. Article 25. The party which fails to perform wholly or in part its contractual obligations due to an event of force majeure shall promptly inform
CHAPTER IV THE ASSIGNMENT OF CONTRACTS Article 26. When a party assigns, wholly or in part, its contractual rights and obligations to a third party, it must obtain the consent of Article 27. In the case of a contract which, according to the laws or administrative regulations of the People’s Republic of China, is to be
CHAPTER V THE MODIFICATION, RESCISSION AND TERMINATION OF CONTRACTS Article 28. A contract may be modified if both parties agree through consultation. Article 29. A party shall have the right to notify the other party that a contract is rescinded in any of the following situations: (1) if the other party has breached the contract, thus adversely affecting the economic benefits they expected to receive at the time (2) if the other party fails to perform the contract within the time limit agreed upon in the contract, and again fails to perform (3) if all the obligations under the contract cannot be performed due to an event of force majeure; or (4) if the contractually agreed conditions for the rescission of the contract are present. Article 30. For a contract consisting of several parts that are independent from each other, some of them may be rescinded according to the Article 31. A contract shall be terminated in any one of the following situations: (1) if the contract has already been performed in accordance with the agreed terms; (2) if an arbitration body or a court has decided that the contract shall be terminated; or (3) if the parties agree through consultation to terminate the contract. Article 32. Notices or agreements on the modification or rescission of contracts shall be made in writing. Article 33. In the case of a contract which, according to the laws or administrative regulations of the People’s Republic of China, is to be Article 34. The modification, rescission or termination of a contract shall not affect the rights of the parties to claim damages. Article 35. The contractually agreed terms for the settlement of disputes shall not become invalid because of the rescission or termination Article 36. The contractually agreed terms for the settlement of accounts and liquidation of a contract shall not become invalid because of
CHAPTER VI THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES Article 37. If disputes over a contract develop, the parties shall, as far as possible, settle them through consultation, or through mediation If the parties are unwilling to settle their dispute through consultation or mediation, or if consultation or mediation proves unsuccessful, Article 38. If no arbitration clause is provided in the contract, and a written arbitration agreement is not reached afterwards, the parties
CHAPTER VII SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS Article 39. The time limit for filing a suit or applying for arbitration in respect of a dispute over a contract for the purchase and sale of Article 40. If new legal provisions are formulated while contracts for Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures, Chinese-foreign contractual joint Article 41. This Law may apply to contracts concluded before it goes into effect, if this is agreed by the parties through consultation. Article 42. The State Council shall, in accordance with this Law, formulate rules for its implementation. Article 43. This Law shall go into effect on July 1, 1985.
|