PROVISIONS OF THE STATE COUNCIL FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF FOREIGNINVESTMENT
Important Notice: (注意事项)
英文本源自中华人民共和国务院法制局编译, 中国法制出版社出版的《中华人民
共和国涉外法规汇编》(1991年7月版).
当发生歧意时, 应以法律法规颁布单位发布的中文原文为准.
This English document is coming from "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.
Whole Document (法规全文)
PROVISIONS OF THE STATE COUNCIL FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF FOREIGN
INVESTMENT
(Promulgated on October 11, 1986)
Article 1
These Provisions are formulated in order to improve the investment
environment, facilitate the absorption of foreign investment, introduce
advanced technology, upgrade product quality, expand exports in order to
generate foreign exchange and develop the national economy.
Article 2
The State encourages foreign companies, enterprises and other economic
organizations or individuals (hereinafter referred to as "foreign
investors") to establish Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures, Chinese-
foreign contractual joint ventures and foreign capital enterprises
(hereinafter referred to as "enterprises with foreign investment") within
the territory of China.
The State grants special preferences to the enterprises with foreign
investment listed below:
(1) Production enterprises whose products are mainly for export, which
have a foreign exchange surplus after deducting from their total annual
foreign exchange revenues the annual foreign exchange expenditures
incurred in production and operation and the foreign exchange needed for
the remittance abroad of the profits earned by foreign investors
(hereinafter referred to as "product-for-export enterprises").
(2) Production enterprises possessing advanced technology supplied by
foreign investors which are engaged in developing new products, and
upgrading and replacing products in order to increase foreign exchange
generated by exports or for import substitution (hereinafter referred to
as "technologically advanced enterprises").
Article 3
Product-for-export enterprises and technologically advanced enterprises
shall be exempt from payment of all subsidies to be granted by the State
to staff and workers, except for the payment of or allocation of funds for
labour insurance, welfare costs and housing subsidies for Chinese staff
and workers in accordance with the provisions of the state.
Article 4
The site use fees for product-for-export enterprises and technologically
advanced enterprises, except for those located in busy urban sectors of
large cities, shall be computed and charged according to the following
standards:
(1) five to twenty RMB yuan per square metre per year in areas where the
development fee and the site use fee are computed and charged together;
(2) not more than three RMB yuan per square metre per year in site areas
where the development fee is computed and charged on a one-time basis or
areas which are developed by the above-mentioned enterprises themselves.
Exemptions for specified periods of time from the fees provided in the
foregoing provision may be granted at the discretion of local people's
governments.
Article 5
Product-for-export enterprises and technologically advanced enterprises
shall be given priority in obtaining water, electricity and transportation
services, and communication facilities needed for their production and
operation. Fees shall be computed and charged in accordance with the
standards for local state enterprises.
Article 6
Product-for-export enterprises and technologically advanced enterprises,
after examination by the Bank of China, shall be given priority in
receiving loans for short term revolving funds needed for production and
distribution, as well as for other needed credit.
Article 7
When foreign investors in product-for-export enterprises and
technologically advanced enterprises remit abroad profits realized by them
from such enterprises, the amount remitted shall be exempt from income
tax.
Article 8
After the expiration of the period for the reduction or exemption of
enterprise income tax in accordance with the provisions of the state,
product-for-export enterprises whose value of export products in that year
amounts to 70 per cent or more of the value of their products for that
year, may pay enterprise income tax at a rate reduced by one half of the
current tax rate.
Product-for-export enterprises in the special economic zones and in the
economic and technological development zones and other product-for-export
enterprises that already pay enterprise income tax at a tax rate of 15 per
cent and that comply with the foregoing conditions, may pay enterprise
income tax at a reduced rate of 10 per cent.
Article 9
After the expiration of the period of reduction or exemption of enterprise
income tax in accordance with the provisions of the state, technologically
advanced enterprises may extend for three years the payment of enterprise
income tax at a rate reduced by one half.
Article 10
Foreign investors who reinvest their shares of profits from their
enterprises in order to establish or expand product-for-export enterprises
or technologically advanced enterprises for a period of operation of not
less than five years, after application to and approval by the tax
authorities, shall be refunded the total amount of enterprise income tax
already paid on the reinvested portion. If the investment is withdrawn
before the period of operation reaches five years, the amount of
enterprise income tax refunded shall be repaid.
Article 11
Export products of enterprises with foreign investment, except crude oil,
finished oil and other products subject to special state provisions, shall
be exempt from the consolidated industrial and commercial tax.
Article 12
Enterprises with foreign investment may arrange the export of their
products directly or may also export by consignment to agents in
accordance with state provisions. For products that require an export
license, in accordance with the annual export plan of the enterprises, an
application for export licenses shall be made every six months.
Article 13
Machinery and equipment, vehicles used in production, raw materials, fuel,
bulk parts, spare parts, machine component parts and fittings (including
imports restricted by the state), which enterprises with foreign
investment need to import in order to carry out their export contracts do
not require further applications for examination and approval and are
exempt from the requirement for import licenses. The Customs shall
exercise supervision and control, and shall inspect and release such
imports on the basis of the enterprise contracts or the import-export
contracts.
The imported materials and items mentioned above are restricted to use by
the enterprise itself and may not be sold on the home market. If they are
used as products to be sold on the domestic market, import procedures
shall be gone through in accordance with relevant provisions and duties
shall be paid according to relevant regulations.
Article 14
Under the supervision of the foreign exchange control departments,
enterprises with foreign investment may mutually adjust their foreign
exchange surpluses and deficiencies among themselves.
The Bank of China and other banks designated by the People's Bank of China
may provide cash security services and may grant loans in Renminbi to
enterprises with foreign investment.
Article 15 [*1]
The people's governments at various levels and relevant departments in
charge shall guarantee the right of autonomy of enterprises with foreign
investment and shall support enterprises with foreign investment in
managing themselves in accordance with internationally advanced scientific
methods.
Within the scope of their approved contracts, enterprises with foreign
investment have the right to draw up, of their own accord, production and
operation plans, to raise funds, to use funds, to purchase production
materials and to sell products; and to determine by themselves the wage
levels, the forms of wages and the bonus and allowance system. Enterprises
with foreign investment may, in accordance with their production and
operation requirements, determine by themselves their organizational
structure and personnel system, employ or dismiss senior management
personnel, increase or dismiss staff and workers. They may recruit and
employ technical personnel, managerial personnel and workers in their
locality. The units to which such employed personnel belong should back
the employment and permit the transfer. Staff and workers who violate the
rules and regulations, and thereby cause certain bad consequences may, in
accordance with the seriousness of the case, be given varying sanctions,
up to that of discharge. Enterprises with foreign investment that
recruit, employ, dismiss or discharge staff and workers, shall file a
report with the local labour and personnel department for the record.
Article 16
All regions and departments must implement the "Circular of the State
Council Concerning Firmly Curbing the Indiscriminate Levy of Charges on
Enterprises". The people's governments at the provincial level shall
formulate specific measures and strengthen supervision and administration
in this regard.
Enterprises with foreign investment may refuse to pay indiscriminately
apportioned charges if such cases occur and may also appeal to the local
economic committees up to the State Economic Commission.
Article 17
The people's governments at various levels and relevant departments in
charge shall strengthen the co-ordination of their work, improve
efficiency in handling matters and shall promptly examine and approve
matters reported by enterprises with foreign investment that require
response and resolution. For the agreements, contracts and articles of
association of enterprises with foreign investment to be examined and
approved by the departments in charge under the State Council, the
relevant examination and approval authorities must, within three months
from the date of receipt of all documents, decide to approve or not to
approve them.
Article 18
Product-for-export enterprises and technologically advanced enterprises
mentioned in these Provisions shall be confirmed as such by the foreign
economic relations and trade departments where such enterprises are
located in conjunction with the other relevant departments in accordance
with the enterprise contract, and certificates of confirmation shall be
issued.
If the actual results of the annual exports of a product-for-export
enterprise are unable to hit the target of a surplus in the foreign
exchange balance as set in the enterprise contract, the taxes and fees
which have already been reduced or exempted in the previous year shall be
paid in the following year.
Article 19
These Provisions, except for those articles that are specifically
applicable to product-for-export enterprises, shall be applicable to all
enterprises with foreign investment. These Provisions apply, from the
date of entry into effect, to those enterprises with foreign investment
that obtained approval for establishment before the date of entry into
effect of these Provisions and that qualify for the preferential terms of
these Provisions.
Article 20
For enterprises established with investment by companies, enterprises and
other economic organization or individuals from Hong Kong, Macao, or
Taiwan, matters shall be handled by reference to these Provisions.
Article 21
The Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade shall be responsible
for interpreting these Provisions.
Article 22
These Provisions shall enter into effect as of the date of promulgation.
Note:
[*1] New provisions have been formulated with regard to this Article which
shall thus be implemented in accordance with the provisions in Opinions
Concerning Further Confirming the Autonomy of Enterprises with Foreign
Investment in the Employment of Their Personnel, formulated by the
Ministry of Labour and Personnel and transmitted by the General Office of
the State Council. - The Editor