PRC Contract Law (Promulgated on 15 March 1999 and effective as of 1 October 1999.) (一九九九年三月十五日公布，自一九九九年十月一日起施行。) GENERAL PROVISIONS 总则 PART ONE:GENERAL STIPULATIONS 第一章一般规定 Article 1:This Law has been formulated to protect the lawful rights and interests of contracting parties,maintain social and economic order and promote socialist modernization. 第一条为了保护合同当事人的合法权益·维护社会经济秩序，促进社会主义现代化建设， 制定本法。 Article 2:For the purposes of this Law,the term"contracts"refers to agreements by which natural persons,legal persons and/or other organizations,as equal parties,establish,modify or terminate relationships of civil rights and obligations 第二条本法所称合同是平等主体的自然人·法人、其他组织之间设立、变更、终止民事权 利义务关系的协议。 Agreements concerning such civil status matters as marriage,adoption,guardianship,etc.are governed by other laws. 婚姻、收养、监护等有矣身份关系的协议，适用其他法律的规定。 Article 3:Contracting parties have equal legal status,and one party may not impose his will upon the other party. 第三条合同当事人的法律地位平等，一方不得将自己的意志强加给另一方。 1
1 PRC Contract Law (Promulgated on 15 March 1999 and effective as of 1 October 1999.) (一九九九年三月十五日公布，自一九九九年十月一日起施行。) GENERAL PROVISIONS 总则 PART ONE: GENERAL STIPULATIONS 第一章一般规定 Article 1: This Law has been formulated to protect the lawful rights and interests of contracting parties, maintain social and economic order and promote socialist modernization. 第一条为了保护合同当事人的合法权益，维护社会经济秩序，促进社会主义现代化建设， 制定本法。 Article 2: For the purposes of this Law, the term “contracts” refers to agreements by which natural persons, legal persons and/or other organizations, as equal parties, establish, modify or terminate relationships of civil rights and obligations. 第二条本法所称合同是平等主体的自然人、法人、其他组织之间设立、变更、终止民事权 利义务关系的协议。 Agreements concerning such civil status matters as marriage, adoption, guardianship, etc. are governed by other laws. 婚姻、收养、监护等有关身份关系的协议，适用其他法律的规定。 Article 3: Contracting parties have equal legal status, and one party may not impose his will upon the other party. 第三条合同当事人的法律地位平等，一方不得将自己的意志强加给另一方
Article 4:Parties enjoy the legal right to voluntarily conclude contracts,and no work unit or individual may illegally intervene therein. 第四条当事人依法享有自愿订立合同的权利·任何单位和个人不得非法干预· Article 5:The parties shall abide by the principle of fairness in determining the rights and obligations of the parties. 第五条当事人应当遵循公平原则确定各方的权利和义务· Article 6:The parties shall abide by the principle of good faith in exercising their rights and performing their obligations. 第六条当事人行使权利、履行义务应当遵循诚实信用原则。 Article 7:When concluding and performing contracts,the parties shall comply with the laws and administrative regulations and respect public morals,and they may not disturb the social or economic order or harm the public interest 第七条当事人订立、履行合同，应当遵守法律、行政法规，尊重社会公德，不得扰乱社会 经济秩序·损害社会公共利益。 Article 8:Legally formed contracts are legally binding on the parties.The parties shall perform their respective obligations as agreed,and no party may modify or terminate the contract on his own authority. 第八条依法成立的合同，对当事人具有法律约束力。当事人应当按照约定履行自己的义 务，不得擅自变更或者解除合同· Legally formed contracts are protected by law. 依法成立的合同，受法律保护。 PART TWO:FORMATION OF CONTRACTS 第二章合同的订立 Article 9:When concluding contracts,the parties shall have the appropriate capacities for civil rights and for civil acts. 第九条当事人订立合同，应当具有相应的民事权利能力和民事行为能力· 2
2 Article 4: Parties enjoy the legal right to voluntarily conclude contracts, and no work unit or individual may illegally intervene therein. 第四条当事人依法享有自愿订立合同的权利，任何单位和个人不得非法干预。 Article 5: The parties shall abide by the principle of fairness in determining the rights and obligations of the parties. 第五条当事人应当遵循公平原则确定各方的权利和义务。 Article 6: The parties shall abide by the principle of good faith in exercising their rights and performing their obligations. 第六条当事人行使权利、履行义务应当遵循诚实信用原则。 Article 7: When concluding and performing contracts, the parties shall comply with the laws and administrative regulations and respect public morals, and they may not disturb the social or economic order or harm the public interest. 第七条当事人订立、履行合同，应当遵守法律、行政法规，尊重社会公德，不得扰乱社会 经济秩序，损害社会公共利益。 Article 8: Legally formed contracts are legally binding on the parties. The parties shall perform their respective obligations as agreed, and no party may modify or terminate the contract on his own authority. 第八条依法成立的合同，对当事人具有法律约束力。当事人应当按照约定履行自己的义 务，不得擅自变更或者解除合同。 Legally formed contracts are protected by law. 依法成立的合同，受法律保护。 PART TWO: FORMATION OF CONTRACTS 第二章合同的订立 Article 9: When concluding contracts, the parties shall have the appropriate capacities for civil rights and for civil acts. 第九条当事人订立合同，应当具有相应的民事权利能力和民事行为能力
A party may legally entrust an agent to conclude the contract on his behalf. 当事人依法可以委托代理人订立合同。 Article 10:The parties may conclude their contract in writing,orally or in another form. 第十条当事人订立合同，有书面形式、口头形式和其他形式。 If a law or administrative regulation stipulates that it be in writing,it shall be in writing.If the parties agree that it be in writing,it shall be in writing. 法律、行政法规规定采用书面形式的，应当采用书面形式。当事人约定采用书面形式的， 应当采用书面形式。 Article 11:The term"in writing"refers to a form which is capable of tangibly representing its content,such as written instruments,letters and electrically or electronically transmitted documents (including telegrams,telexes,facsimiles,electronic data interchange and e-mail),etc. 第十一条书面形式是指合同书、信件和数据电文（包括电报、电传、传真、电子数据交换 和电子邮件)等可以有形地表现所载内容的形式。 Article 12:The particulars of a contract shall be agreed upon by the parties.In general,such particulars shall include the following terms: 第十二条合同的内容由当事人约定，一般包括以下条款： (1)the names and domiciles of the parties; (一)当事人的名称或者姓名和住所； (2)the subject matter; (二)标的； (3)the quantities; (三)数量； (4)the quality; (四)质量： 3
3 A party may legally entrust an agent to conclude the contract on his behalf. 当事人依法可以委托代理人订立合同。 Article 10: The parties may conclude their contract in writing, orally or in another form. 第十条当事人订立合同，有书面形式、口头形式和其他形式。 If a law or administrative regulation stipulates that it be in writing, it shall be in writing. If the parties agree that it be in writing, it shall be in writing. 法律、行政法规规定采用书面形式的，应当采用书面形式。当事人约定采用书面形式的， 应当采用书面形式。 Article 11: The term “in writing” refers to a form which is capable of tangibly representing its content, such as written instruments, letters and electrically or electronically transmitted documents (including telegrams, telexes, facsimiles, electronic data interchange and e-mail), etc. 第十一条书面形式是指合同书、信件和数据电文（包括电报、电传、传真、电子数据交换 和电子邮件）等可以有形地表现所载内容的形式。 Article 12: The particulars of a contract shall be agreed upon by the parties. In general, such particulars shall include the following terms: 第十二条合同的内容由当事人约定，一般包括以下条款： (1) the names and domiciles of the parties; （一）当事人的名称或者姓名和住所； (2) the subject matter; （二）标的； (3) the quantities; （三）数量； (4) the quality; （四）质量；
(5)the price or remuneration; (五)价款或者报酬； (6)the time limit for,and place and method of,performance; (六)履行期限、地点和方式： (7)liability for breach of contract;and (七)违约责任； (8)the method of dispute resolution. (八)解决争议的方法。 In concluding a contract,the parties may refer to the model texts for various types of contract. 当事人可以参照各类合同的示范文本订立合同。 Article 13:The parties shall conclude their contract by the method of offer and acceptance. 第十三条当事人订立合同，采取要约、承诺方式· Article 14:An offer is a party's declaration of his intent to conclude a contract with another party.The declaration shall comply with the following provisions: 第十四条要约是希笔和他人订立合同的意思表示，该意思表示应当符合下列规定： (1)its content shall be specific and definite;and (一)内容具体确定； (2)it shall indicate that the offeror will be bound by it upon its acceptance by the offeree. (二)表明经受要约人承诺，要约人即受该意思表示约束。 Article 15:An invitation to offer is a party's declaration of his intent to have another party make him an offer.Delivered price lists,auction announcements,announcements of an invitation to tender,share prospectuses,commercial advertisements,etc.are invitations to offer. 第十五条要约邀请是希笔他人向自己发出要约的意思表示。寄送的价目表、拍卖公告、招 标公告、招股说明书、商业广告等为要约邀请
4 (5) the price or remuneration; （五）价款或者报酬； (6) the time limit for, and place and method of, performance; （六）履行期限、地点和方式； (7) liability for breach of contract; and （七）违约责任； (8) the method of dispute resolution. （八）解决争议的方法。 In concluding a contract, the parties may refer to the model texts for various types of contract. 当事人可以参照各类合同的示范文本订立合同。 Article 13: The parties shall conclude their contract by the method of offer and acceptance. 第十三条当事人订立合同，采取要约、承诺方式。 Article 14: An offer is a party’s declaration of his intent to conclude a contract with another party. The declaration shall comply with the following provisions: 第十四条要约是希望和他人订立合同的意思表示，该意思表示应当符合下列规定： (1) its content shall be specific and definite; and （一）内容具体确定； (2) it shall indicate that the offeror will be bound by it upon its acceptance by the offeree. （二）表明经受要约人承诺，要约人即受该意思表示约束。 Article 15: An invitation to offer is a party’s declaration of his intent to have another party make him an offer. Delivered price lists, auction announcements, announcements of an invitation to tender, share prospectuses, commercial advertisements, etc. are invitations to offer. 第十五条要约邀请是希望他人向自己发出要约的意思表示。寄送的价目表、拍卖公告、招 标公告、招股说明书、商业广告等为要约邀请
Commercial advertisements whose contents comply with the requirements for offers are deemed to be offers. 商业广告的内容符合要约规定的，视为要约· Article 16:An offer becomes effective when it reaches the offeree. 第十六条要约到达受要约人时生效。 If a contract is concluded by using the electrically or electronically transmitted document method, and the addressee designates a specific system to receive the electrically or electronically transmitted document,the document is deemed to have reached the offeree when it enters the designated system.If no specific system is designated,the document is deemed to have reached the offeree at its first entry into any of the offeree's systems. 采用数据电文形式订立合同，收件人指定特定系统接收数据电文的，该数据电文进入该特 定系统的时间，视为到达时间；未指定特定系统的，该数据电文进入收件人的任何系统的 首次时间，视为到达时间。 Article 17:An offer may be withdrawn.The notification of the withdrawal of the offer shall reach the offeree before or at the same time as the offer. 第十七条要约可以撤回·撤回要约的通知应当在要约到达受要约人之前或者与要约同时到 达受要约人。 Article 18:An offer may be revoked.The notice of revocation of the offer shall reach the offeree before he has dispatched an acceptance. 第十八条要约可以撤销。撤销要约的通知应当在受要约人发出承诺通知之前到达受要约 人 Article 19:An offer may not be revoked if: 第十九条有下列情形之一的，要约不得撤销： (1)the offeror has clearly indicated,whether by stating a fixed time for acceptance or otherwise, that it is irrevocable;or (一)要约人确定了承诺期限或者以其他形式明示要约不可撤销； (2)the offeree had reason to believe that the offer was irrevocable and has already made preparations to perform the contract (二)受要约人有理由认为要约是不可撤销的，并已经为履行合同作了准备工作。 5
5 Commercial advertisements whose contents comply with the requirements for offers are deemed to be offers. 商业广告的内容符合要约规定的，视为要约。 Article 16: An offer becomes effective when it reaches the offeree. 第十六条要约到达受要约人时生效。 If a contract is concluded by using the electrically or electronically transmitted document method, and the addressee designates a specific system to receive the electrically or electronically transmitted document, the document is deemed to have reached the offeree when it enters the designated system. If no specific system is designated, the document is deemed to have reached the offeree at its first entry into any of the offeree’s systems. 采用数据电文形式订立合同，收件人指定特定系统接收数据电文的，该数据电文进入该特 定系统的时间，视为到达时间；未指定特定系统的，该数据电文进入收件人的任何系统的 首次时间，视为到达时间。 Article 17: An offer may be withdrawn. The notification of the withdrawal of the offer shall reach the offeree before or at the same time as the offer. 第十七条要约可以撤回。撤回要约的通知应当在要约到达受要约人之前或者与要约同时到 达受要约人。 Article 18: An offer may be revoked. The notice of revocation of the offer shall reach the offeree before he has dispatched an acceptance. 第十八条要约可以撤销。撤销要约的通知应当在受要约人发出承诺通知之前到达受要约 人。 Article 19: An offer may not be revoked if: 第十九条有下列情形之一的，要约不得撤销： (1) the offeror has clearly indicated, whether by stating a fixed time for acceptance or otherwise, that it is irrevocable; or （一）要约人确定了承诺期限或者以其他形式明示要约不可撤销； (2) the offeree had reason to believe that the offer was irrevocable and has already made preparations to perform the contract. （二）受要约人有理由认为要约是不可撤销的，并已经为履行合同作了准备工作