中国合同法(英文版)

1中国合同法英文版CONTRACTLAWOFP.R.CHINAAdoptedandPromulgatedbytheSecondSessionoftheNinthNationalPeople‘sCongressonMarch15,1999.Translated&CompiledbyJohnJiang&HenryLiuGENERALPRINCIPLESChapterOne:GeneralProvisionsArticle1PurposeThisLawisformulatedinordertoprotectthelawfulrightsandinterestsofcontractparties,tosafeguardsocialandeconomicorder,andtopromotesocialistmodernization.Article2DefinitionofContract;ExclusionsForpurposesofthisLaw,acontractisanagreementbetweennaturalpersons,legalpersonsorotherorganizationswithequalstanding,forthepurposeofestablishing,altering,ordischargingarelationshipofcivilrightsandobligations.Anagreementconcerninganypersonalrelationshipsuchasmarriage,adoption,guardianship,etc.shallbegovernedbyotherapplicablelaws.Article3EqualStandingofPartiesContractpartiesenjoyequallegalstandingandneitherpartymayimposeitswillontheotherparty.Article4RighttoEnterintoContractVoluntarilyApartyisentitledtoenterintoacontractvoluntarilyunderthelaw,andnoentityorindividualmayunlawfullyinterferewithsuchright.Article5FairnessThepartiesshallabidebytheprincipleoffairnessinprescribingtheirrespectiverightsandobligations.Article6GoodFaithThepartiesshallabidebytheprincipleofgoodfaithinexercisingtheirrightsandperformingtheirobligations.Article7LegalityInconcludingorperformingacontract,thepartiesshallabidebytherelevantlawsandadministrativeregulations,aswellasobservesocialethics,andmaynotdisruptsocialandeconomicorderorharmthepublicinterests.2Article8BindingEffect;LegalProtectionAlawfullyformedcontractislegallybindingontheparties.Thepartiesshallperformtheirrespectiveobligationsinaccordancewiththecontract,andneitherpartymayarbitrarilyamendorterminatethecontract.Alawfullyformedcontractisprotectedbylaw.ChapterTwo:FormationofContractsArticle9Capacity;ContractthroughAgentInenteringintoacontract,thepartiesshallhavetheappropriatecapacitiesforcivilrightsandcivilacts.Apartymayappointanagenttoenterintoacontractonitsbehalfunderthelaw.Article10FormsofContract;WritingRequirementAcontractmaybemadeinawriting,inanoralconversation,aswellasinanyotherform.Acontractshallbeinwritingifarelevantlaworadministrativeregulationsorequires.Acontractshallbeinwritingifthepartieshavesoagreed.Article11DefinitionofWritingAwritingmeansamemorandumofcontract,letterorelectronicmessage(includingtelegram,telex,facsimile,electronicdataexchangeandelectronicmail),etc.whichiscapableofexpressingitscontentsinatangibleform.Article12TermsofContractThetermsofacontractshallbeprescribedbytheparties,andgenerallyincludethefollowing:(i)namesofthepartiesandthedomicilesthereof;(ii)subjectmatter;(iii)quantity;(iv)quality;(v)priceorremuneration;(vi)time,placeandmethodofperformance;(vii)liabilitiesforbreachofcontract;(viii)methodofdisputeresolution.Thepartiesmayenterintoacontractbyreferencingamodelcontractfortherelevantcontractcategory.Article13Offer-AcceptanceAcontractisconcludedbytheexchangeofanofferandanacceptance.Article14DefinitionofOfferAnofferisaparty‘smanifestationofintentiontoenterintoacontractwiththeotherparty,whichshallcomplywiththefollowing:(i)Itstermsarespecificanddefinite;(ii)Itindicatesthatuponacceptancebytheofferee,theofferorwillbeboundthereby.3Article15InvitationtoOfferAninvitationtoofferisaparty‘smanifestationofintentiontoinvitetheotherpartytomakeanofferthereto.Adeliveredpricelist,announcementofauction,callfortender,prospectus,orcommercialadvertisement,etc.isaninvitationtooffer.Acommercialadvertisementisdeemedanofferifitscontentsmeettherequirementsofanoffer.Article16EffectivenessofOffer,OfferthroughElectronicMessageAnofferbecomeseffectivewhenitreachestheofferee.Whenacontractisconcludedbytheexchangeofelectronicmessages,iftherecipientofanelectronicmessagehasdesignatedaspecificsystemtoreceiveit,thetimewhentheelectronicmessageentersintosuchspecificsystemisdeemeditstimeofarrival;ifnospecificsystemhasbeendesignated,thetimewhentheelectronicmessagefirstentersintoanyoftherecipient‘ssystemsisdeemeditstimeofarrival.Article17WithdrawalofOfferAnoffermaybewithdrawn.Thenoticeofwithdrawalshallreachtheoffereebeforeoratthesametimeastheoffer.Article18RevocationofOfferAnoffermayberevoked.Thenoticeofrevocationshallreachtheoffereebeforeithasdispatchedanoticeofacceptance.Article19IrrevocableOfferAnoffermaynotberevoked:(i)ifitexpresslyindicates,whetherbystatingafixedtimeforacceptanceorotherwise,thatitisirrevocable;(ii)iftheoffereehasreasontoregardtheofferasirrevocable,andhasundertakenpreparationforperformance.Article20ExtinguishmentofOfferAnofferisextinguishedinanyofthefollowingcircumstances:(i)Thenoticeofrejectionreachestheofferor;(ii)Theofferorlawfullyrevokestheoffer;(iii)Theoffereefailstodispatchitsacceptanceattheendoftheperiodforacceptance;(iv)Theoffereemakesamaterialchangetothetermsoftheoffer.Article21DefinitionofAcceptanceAnacceptanceistheofferee‘smanifestationofintentiontoassenttoanoffer.Article22ModeofAcceptance;AcceptancebyConductAnacceptanceshallbemanifestedbynotification,exceptwhereitmaybemanifestedbyconductinaccordancewiththerelevantusageorasindicatedintheoffer.4Article23TimelyDispat