China's Foreign-invested Companies: A Standardization of Practices

The Implementing Opinion issued jointly by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs adn teh State Administration of Foreign Exchange clarifies issues such as organizational structure, incorporation form, timing and documentary requirements pertaining to approval applications, registration and capital contribution of foreign-invested enterprises, reinvestment requirements as well as approvals and registration of amendment. In particular, it elaborates on the basic rules in Article 218 of the Company Law on the applicability of laws to foreign-invested companies, and establishes the position that Company Law should govern foreign direct investment in China unless pre-empted by FIE laws. The Opinion also produces a list of FIC classification, including 13 FIEs formed as limited liability companies and 10 as foreign-invested companies limited by shares. The respective roles of board of directors, the shareholders' meeting, and the articles of association in corporate governance of various FIE structures are delineated.