发文时间：
1985-3-21
实施时间：
1985-6-1
法规类型：
基本法律
中华人民共和国涉外经济合同法(附英文)
全国人大常委会（一九八五年三月二十一日第六届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十次会议通过）
第一章
总
则
第一条
为了保障涉外经济合同当事人的合法权益，促进我国对外经济关系的发展，特制定本法。
第二条
本法的适用范围是中华人民共和国的企业或者其他经济组织同外国的企业和其他经济组织或者个人之间订立的经济合同（以下简称合同）。但是，国际运输合同除外。
第三条
订立合同，应当依据平等互利、协商一致的原则。
第四条
订立合同，必须遵守中华人民共和国法律，并不得损害中华人民共和国的社会公共利益。
第五条
合同当事人可以选择处理合同争议所适用的法律。当事人没有选择的，适用与合同有最密切联系的国家的法律。
在中华人民共和国境内履行的中外合资经营企业合同、中外合作经营企业合同、中外合作勘探开发自然资源合同，适用中华人民共和国法律。
中华人民共和国法律未作规定的，可以适用国际惯例。
第六条
中华人民共和国缔结或者参加的与合同有关的国际条约同中华人民共和国法律有不同规定的，适用该国际条约的规定。但是，中华人民共和国声明保留的条款除外。
第二章
合同的订立
第七条
当事人就合同条款以书面形式达成协议并签字，即为合同成立。通过信件、电报、电传达成协议，一方当事人要求签订确认书的，签订确认书时，方为合同成立。
中华人民共和国法律、行政法规规定应当由国家批准的合同，获得批准时，方为合同成立。
第八条
合同订明的附件是合同的组成部分。
第九条
违反中华人民共和国法律或者社会公共利益的合同无效。
合同中的条款违反中华人民共和国法律或者社会公共利益的，经当事人协商同意予以取消或者改正后，不影响合同的效力。
第十条
采取欺诈或者胁迫手段订立的合同无效。
第十一条
当事人一方对合同无效负有责任的，应当对另一方因合同无效而遭受的损失负赔偿责任。
第十二条
合同一般应当具备以下条款：
一、合同当事人的名称或者姓名、国籍、主营业所或者住所；
二、合同签订的日期、地点；
三、合同的类型和合同标的的种类、范围；
四、合同标的的技术条件、质量、标准、规格、数量；
五、履行的期限、地点和方式；
六、价格条件、支付金额、支付方式和各种附带的费用；
七、合同能否转让或者合同转让的条件；
八、违反合同的赔偿和其他责任；
九、合同发生争议时的解决方法；
十、合同使用的文字及其效力。
第十三条
合同应当视需要约定当事人对履行标的承担风险的界限；必要时应当约定对标的的保险范围。
第十四条
对于需要较长期间连续履行的合同，当事人应当约定合同的有效期限，并可以约定延长合同期限和提前终止合同的条件。
第十五条
当事人可以在合同中约定担保。担保人在约定的担保范围内承担责任。
第三章
合同的履行和违反合同的责任
第十六条
合同依法成立，即具有法律约束力。当事人应当履行合同约定的义务，任何一方不得擅自变更或者解除合同。
第十七条
当事人一方有另一方不能履行合同的确切证据时，可以暂时中止履行合同，但是应当立即通知另一方；当另一方对履行合同提供了充分的保证时，应当履行合同。当事人一方没有另一方不能履行合同的确切证据,中止履行合同的，应当负违反合同的责任。
第十八条
当事人一方不履行合同或者履行合同义务不符合约定条件，即违反合同的，另一方有权要求赔偿损失或者采取其他合理的补救措施。采取其他补救措施后，尚不能完全弥补另一方受到的损失的，另一方仍然有权要求赔偿损失。
第十九条
当事人一方违反合同的赔偿责任，应当相当于另一方因此所受到的损失，但是不得超过违反合同一方订立合同时应当预见到的因违反合同可能造成的损失。
第二十条
当事人可以在合同中约定，一方违反合同时，向另一方支付一定数额的违约金；也可以约定对于违反合同而产生的损失赔偿额的计算方法。
合同中约定的违约金，视为违反合同的损失赔偿。但是，约定的违约金过分高于或者低于违反合同所造成的损失的，当事人可以请求仲裁机构或者法院予以适当减少或者增加。
第二十一条
当事人双方都违反合同的，应当各自承担相应的责任。
第二十二条
当事人一方因另一方违反合同而受到损失的，应当及时采取适当措施防止损失的扩大；没有及时采取适当措施致使损失扩大的，无权就扩大的损失要求赔偿。
第二十三条
当事人一方未按期支付合同规定的应付金额或者与合同有关的其他应付金额的，另一方有权收取迟延支付金额的利息。计算利息的方法，可以在合同中约定。
第二十四条
当事人因不可抗力事件不能履行合同的全部或者部分义务的，免除其全部或者部分责任。
当事人一方因不可抗力事件不能按合同约定的期限履行的，在事件的后果影响持续的期间内，免除其迟延履行的责任。
不可抗力事件是指当事人在订立合同时不能预见、对其发生和后果不能避免并不能克服的事件。
不可抗力事件的范围，可以在合同中约定。
第二十五条
当事人一方因不可抗力事件不能履行合同的全部或者部分义务的，应当及时通知另一方，以减轻可能给另一方造成的损失，并应在合理期间内提供有关机构出具的证明。
第四章
合同的转让
第二十六条
当事人一方将合同权利和义务的全部或者部分转让给第三者的，应当取得另一方的同意。
第二十七条
中华人民共和国法律、行政法规规定应当由国家批准成立的合同，其权利和义务的转让，应当经原批准机关批准。但是，已批准的合同中另有约定的除外。
第五章
合同的变更、解除和终止
第二十八条
经当事人协商同意后，合同可以变更。
第二十九条
有下列情形之一的，当事人一方有权通知另一方解除合同：
一、另一方违反合同，以致严重影响订立合同所期望的经济利益；
二、另一方在合同约定的期限内没有履行合同，在被允许推迟履行的合理期限内仍未履行；
三、发生不可抗力事件，致使合同的全部义务不能履行；
四、合同约定的解除合同的条件已经出现。
第三十条
对于包含几个相互独立部分的合同，可以依据前条的规定，解除其中的一部分而保留其余部分的效力。
第三十一条
有下列情形之一的，合同即告终止：
一、合同已按约定条件得到履行；
二、仲裁机构裁决或者法院判决终止合同；
三、双方协商同意终止合同。
第三十二条
变更或者解除合同的通知或者协议，应当采用书面形式。
第三十三条
中华人民共和国法律、行政法规规定应当由国家批准成立的合同，其重大变更应当经原批准机关批准，其解除应当报原批准机关备案。
第三十四条
合同的变更、解除或者终止，不影响当事人要求赔偿损失的权利。
第三十五条
合同约定的解决争议的条款，不因合同的解除或者终止而失去效力。
第三十六条
合同约定的结算和清理条款，不因合同的解除或者终止而失去效力。
第六章
争议的解决
第三十七条
发生合同争议时，当事人应当可能通过协商或者通过第三者调解解决。
当事人不愿协商、调解的，或者协商、调解不成的，可以依据合同中的仲裁条款或者事后达成的书面仲裁协议，提交中国仲裁机构或者其他仲裁机构仲裁。
第三十八条
当事人没有在合同中订立仲裁条款，事后又没有达成书面仲裁协议的，可以向人民法院起诉。
第七章
附
则
第三十九条
货物买卖合同争议提起诉讼或者仲裁的期限为四年，自当事人知道或者应当知道其权利受到侵犯之日起计算。其他合同争议提起诉讼或者仲裁的期限由法律另行规定。
第四十条
在中华人民共和国境内履行、经国家批准成立的中外合资经营企业合同、中外合作经营企业合同、中外合作勘探开发自然资源合同，在法律有新的规定时，可以仍然按照合同的规定执行。
第四十一条
本法施行之日前成立的合同，经当事人协商同意，可以适用本法。
第四十二条
国务院依据本法制定实施细则。
第四十三条
本法自一九八五年七月一日起施行。
LAW OF THE
PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC
OF
CHINA
ON
ECONOMIC
CONTRACTSINVOLVING FOREIGN INTEREST
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)
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, promulgated
by
Order
No.
22
of
the President of the People's
Republic
of
China
on
March
21,
1985,
and
effective as of July 1, 1985)
Contents
Chapter I
General Provisions
Chapter II
The Conclusion of Contracts
Chapter III
The Performance of Contracts and Liability for Breach of
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
and promoting the development of China's foreign economic relations.
Article 2
This Law shall apply to economic contracts concluded
between
enterprises or other economic organizations of the
People's
Republic
of
China
and foreign enterprises, other economic organizations or individuals.
(hereinafter referred to as "contracts").
However, this
provision
shall not apply to international transport contracts.
Article 3
Contracts shall be concluded according to the principle
of
equality
and mutual
benefit
and
the
principle
of
achieving
agreement
through consultation.
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
of
the People's Republic of China.
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
choice
by
the parties, the law of the country which has the closest connection with
the contract shall apply.
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 of China, namely contracts
for
Chinese-foreign
equity joint ventures, Chinese-foreign contractual joint
ventures
and
Chinese- foreign cooperative exploration and development of natural resources.
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
or
a signatory, has provided differently from the law of the People's
Republic of China, the provisions of the international treaty shall
prevail,
with the exception of those clauses on which the People's Republic of China has declared reservation.
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.
If
an agreement is reached by means of letters, telegrams or telex and one party requests a signed letter of confirmation, the
contract
shall
be
formed only after the letter of confirmation
is
signed.
Contracts
which
are subject to the approval of the state, as
provided
for
by
the
laws
or administrative regulations of the People's Republic
of
China,
shall
be formed only after such approval is granted.
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 shall not
be affected if such terms are cancelled or modified by
the
parties
through consultations.
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
of
the contracts becoming invalid.
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 price, amount
and
method
of
payment,
and
various
incidental charges;
(7) whether the contract is assignable and, if it is, the
conditions
for its assignment;
(8) liability to pay compensation and
other
liabilities
for
breach
of contract;
(9) the ways for settling contract disputes; and
(10) the language(s) in which the
contract
is
to
be
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;
if
necessary,
it shall provide for the coverage of insurance for 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 and
may
also stipulate conditions for its extension
and
its
termination
before
its expiry.
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 Contract
Article 16
A contract shall be legally bindings as
soon
as
it
is
established
in accordance with the law.
The
parties
shall
perform
their
obligations stipulated in the contract. No party shall unilaterally modify or
rescind the contract.
Article 17
A party may temporarily suspend its performance of the contract if it
has conclusive evidence
that
the
other
party
is
unable
to
perform
the contract. However, it shall immediately inform the
other
party
of
such suspension. It shall perform the contract if
and
when
the
other
party provides a sure guarantee for performance of
the
contract.
If
a
party suspends performance of the contract without conclusive
evidence
of
the other party's inability to perform the contract, it shall
be
liable
for breach of contract.
Article 18
If a party fails to
perform
the
contract
or
its
performance
of
the contractual obligations does
not
conform
to
the
agreed
terms.
which constitutes a breach of contract, the other party
is
entitled
to
claim damages or demand
other
reasonable
remedial
measures.
If
the
losses suffered by the other
party
cannot
be
completely
made
up
after
the adoption of such remedial measures, the other party shall still
have
the right to claim damages.
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 as a consequence of the breach. However, such compensation may not exceed the loss
which
the party responsible for the breach ought to have foreseen at the time of the conclusion of the contract as
a
possible
consequence
of
a
breach
of contract.
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
damages
to the other party; they may also agree upon a
method
for
calculating
the damages resulting from such a breach.
The breach of contract
damages
as stipulated in the contract shall
be
regarded
as
compensation
for
the losses resulting from breach of contract. However,
if
the
contractually agreed breach of contract damages
are
far
more
or
far
less
than
is necessary to compensate for the losses
resulting
from
the
breach,
the party concerned may request an arbitration body or a court
to
reduce
or increase them appropriately.
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 prevent the losses from becoming severer. If the losses are aggravated as
a
result
of
its failure to adopt appropriate measures, it shall not be entitled
to
claim compensation for the aggravated part of the losses.
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 is payable,
the other party is entitled to interest on the amount in arrears.
The
method for calculating the interest may be specified in the contract.
Article 24
If a party is prevented from performing all or
part
of
its
obligations owing to force majeure, it shall
be
relieved
of
all
or
part
of
its obligations.
If a party cannot perform its obligations within the contractually
agreed time limit owing to force majeure, it shall be relieved of
the
liability for delayed performance during the aftereffect of the event.
Force majeure means an event that the parties could not have
foreseen
at the time of conclusion of the
contract,
both
parties
being
unable
to either avoid or overcome its occurrence and consequences.
The scope of force majeure may be specified in the contract.
Article 25
The party which fails
to
perform
wholly
or
in
part
its
contractual obligations owing to force majeure shall promptly inform the
other
party so as to mitigate possible losses inflicted on the other party, and
shall also provide
a
certificate
issued
by
the
relevant
agency
within
a reasonable period of time.
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
the
other
party.
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
formed
with
the approval of the state,
the
assignment
of
the
contractual
rights
and obligations shall be subject
to
the
approval
of
the
authority
which
approved
the
contract,
unless
otherwise
stipulated
in
the
approved contract.
Chapter V The Modification, Rescission
and
Termination
of
Con- tracts
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
of
the conclusion of the contract;
(2) if the other party fails to perform the contract within the time limit agreed upon in the contract, and again fails
to
perform
it
within
the
reasonable period of time allowed for delayed performance;
(3) if all the obligations under the contract cannot be performed owing to 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
independent
parts,
some
may
be rescinded according to the provisions of the preceding article
while
the other parts remain valid.
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
established
with the approval of the state, any significant modification
of
the
contract
shall be subject to the approval
of
the
authority
which
approved
the
contract, and the rescission of the contract shall be filed with the
same authority for the record.
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 of a contract.
Article 36
The
contractually
agreed
terms
for
the
settlement
of
accounts
and
liquidation of
a
contract
shall
not
become
invalid
because
of
the
rescission or termination of the contract.
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
by
a
third party.
If the parties are unwilling to settle their dispute through
consultation
or mediation, or if consultation or mediation
proves
unsuccessful,
they
may, in accordance with the arbitration clause provided in the contract or
a written arbitration agreement reached by the parties afterwards,
submit
the dispute to a Chinese arbitration body or any
other
arbitration
body
for arbitration.
Article 38
If no arbitration clause is
provided
in
the
contract,
and
a
written
arbitration agreement is not reached afterwards,
the
parties
may
bring
suit in a people's court.
Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions
Article 39
The time limit for filing suit or applying for arbitration
in
a
dispute
over a contract for the purchase and sale of goods shall
be
four
years,
counting from the day when the party was aware or ought to have been aware
of its rights' being infringed upon. The time limit
for
filing
suit
or
applying for arbitration in a dispute over any
other
contract
shall
be
stipulated separately by law.
Article 40
If new legal provisions are formulated while contracts for Chinese-foreign
equity joint ventures,
Chinese-foreign
contractual
joint
ventures,
or
Chinese-foreign
cooperative
exploration
and
development
of
natural
resources, which have been concluded with the approval of the
state,
are
being performed within the territory of the People's
Republic
of
China,
the performance may still be based on the terms of the contracts.
Article 41
This Law may apply to contracts concluded before it goes
into
effect
if
this is agreed to 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.
1985年3月21日 |