1、St. Johns University Prof. Jianming Shen Fall 2005 S CHINESE BUSINESS LAW 1 Reading 5-Contract Law (1999) 3333333 CONTRACT LAW OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA 中华人民共和国合同法中华人民共和国合同法中华人民共和国合同法中华人民共和国合同法 (Adopted and Promulgated by the Second Session of the Ninth National Peoples Congress March 15, 19
2、99) Source: http:/ 年月 日第九届全国人民代表大会第二次会议通过 年月 日中华人民共和国主席令第十五号公布 自 年 月日起施行 General Principles 总总总 总 则则则 则 Chapter One: General Provisions 第一章 一般规定 Chapter Two: Formation of Contract 第二章 合同的订立 Chapter Three: Validity of Contract 第三章 合同的效力 Chapter Four: Performance of Contract 第四章 合同的履行 Chapter Five: Mo
3、dification and Assignment of Contract 第五章 合同的变更和转让 Chapter Six: Termination of Contract Rights and Duties 第六章 合同的权利义务终止 Chapter Seven: Liabilities for Breach of Contract 第七章 违约责任 Chapter Eight: Other Provisions 第八章 其他规定 Specific Principles 分分分 分 则则则 则 Chapter Nine: Sales Contract 第九章 买卖合同 Chapter Te
4、n: Contract for the Supply of Electricity, Water, Natural Gas and Heat 第十章 供用电 、水、气、热力合同 Chapter Eleven: Contract of Gifts 第十一章 赠与合同 Chapter Twelve: Contracts for Loans of Money 第十二章 借款合同 Chapter Thirteen: Leasing Contracts 第十三章 租赁合同 Chapter Fourteen: Financial Leasing Contracts 第十四章 融资租赁合同 Chapter
5、Fifteen: Contracts of Hired Works 第十五章 承揽合同 Chapter Sixteen: Contracts for Construction Projects 第十六章 建设工 程合同 Chapter Seventeen: Carriage Contracts 第十七章 运输合同 Section One: General Provisions 第一节 一般规定 Section Two: Passenger Carriage Contracts 第二节 客运合同 Section Three: Cargo Carriage Contracts 第三节 货运合同 S
6、ection Four: Multi-modal Carriage Contracts 第四节 多式联运合同 Chapter Eighteen: Technology Contracts 第十八章 技术合同 Section One: General Provisions 第一节 一般规定 Section Two: Technology Development Contracts 第二节 技术开发合同 Section Three: Technology Transfer Contracts 第三节 技术转让合同 Section Four: Technology Consulting Contra
7、cts and Technology Service Contracts 第四节 技术咨询合同和技术服务合同 St. Johns University Prof. Jianming Shen Fall 2005 S CHINESE BUSINESS LAW 2 Reading 5-Contract Law (1999) Chapter Nineteen: Safekeeping Contracts 第十九章 保管合同 Chapter Twenty: Warehousing Contracts 第二十章 仓储合同 Chapter Twenty One: Agency Appointment C
8、ontracts 第二十一章 委托合同 Chapter Twenty Two: Trading-Trust Contracts 第二十二章 行纪合同 Chapter Twenty Three: Brokerage Contracts 第二十三章 居间合同 Supplementary Provisions 附 则 General Principles 总则总则总则总则 Chapter One General Provisions 第一章第一章第一章第一章 一般规定一般规定一般规定一般规定 Article 1. Purpose. This Law is formulated in order to
9、 protect the lawful rights and interests of contract parties, to safeguard social and economic order, and to 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. Definition of Contract; Exclusions. For purposes of this Law, a contract is an agreement between
10、natural persons, legal persons or other organizations with equal standing, for the purpose of establishing, altering, or discharging a relationship of civil rights and obligations. An agreement concerning any personal relationship such as marriage, adoption, guardianship, etc. shall be governed by o
11、ther applicable laws. 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 。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. Equal Standing of Parties. Contract parties enjoy equal legal standing and neither party may impose its will on 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. Righ
12、t to Enter into Contract Volun-tarily. A party is entitled to enter into a contract voluntarily under the law, and no entity or individual may unlawfully interfere with such right. 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. Fairness. The parties shall abide by the principle of fairness in presc
13、ribing their respective rights and obligations. 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. Good Faith. 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. Legality. In concluding or performing a cont
14、ract, the parties shall abide by the relevant laws and administrative regulations, as well as observe social ethics, and may not disrupt social and economic order or harm the public interests. 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. Binding Effect; Legal Protection. A
15、 lawfully formed contract is legally binding on the parties. The partiesshall perform their respective obligations in accordance with the contract, and neither party may arbitrarily amend or terminate the contract. A lawfully formed contract is protected by law. 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
16、自己的义务 ，不得擅自变更或者解除合同 。依法成立的合同 ，受法律保护 。 St. Johns University Prof. Jianming Shen Fall 2005 S CHINESE BUSINESS LAW 3 Reading 5-Contract Law (1999) Chapter Two Formation of Contracts 第二章第二章第二章第二章 合同的订立合同的订立合同的订立合同的订立 Article 9. Capacity; Contract through Agent. In entering into a contract, the parties
17、shall have the appropriate capacities for civil rights and civil acts. A party may appoint an agent to enter into a contract on its behalf under the law. 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 。当事人依法可以委托代理人订立合同。 Article 10. Forms of Contract; Writing Require-ment.A contract may be made in a writing, in a
18、n oral conversation, as well as in any other form. A contract shall be in writing if a relevant law or administrative regulation so requires. A contract shall be in writing if the parties have so agreed. 第十条 当事人订立合同 ，有书面形式 、 口 头 形 式 和 其 他 形 式 。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 。 Art
19、icle 11. Definition of Writing. A writing means a memorandum of contract, letter or electronic message (including telegram, telex, facsimile, electronic data exchange and electronic mail), etc. which is capable of expressing its contents in a tangible form. 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
20、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 Terms of Contract. The terms of a contract shall be prescribed by the parties, and generally include the following: (1) names of the parties and the domiciles thereof; (2) subject matter; (3) quantity; (4) quality; (5) price or remuneration; (6) time, place and
21、 method of performance; (7) liabilities for breach of contract; (8) method of dispute resolution. The parties may enter into a contract by referencing a model contract for the relevant contract category. 第十二条 合同的内容由当事人约定 ，一般包括以下条款 ： （一）当事人的名称或者姓名和住所 ； （二）标的 ； （三）数量 ； （四）质量 ； （五）价款或者报酬 ； （六）履行期限 、地点和
22、方式 ； （七）违约责任 ； （ 八 ） 解 决 争 议 的 方 法 。当事人可以参照各类合同的示范文本订立合同 。 Article 13 Offer-Acceptance. A contract is concluded by the exchange of an offer and an acceptance. 第十三条 当事 人订立合同 ，采取要约、承诺方式 。 Article 14 Definition of Offer. An offer is a partys manifestation of intention to enter into a contract with the
23、other party, which shall comply with the following: (1) Its terms are specific and definite; (2) It indicates that upon acceptance by the offeree, the offeror will be bound thereby. 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 ： （一）内容具体确定 ； （二）表明经受要约人承诺 ，要约人即受该意思表示约束 。 Article 15 Invitation to Offer. An in
24、vitation to offer is a partys manifestation of intention to invite the other party to make an offer thereto. A delivered price list, announcement of auction, call for tender, prospectus, or commercial advertisement, etc. is an invitation to offer. A commercial advertisement is deemed an offer if its
25、 contents meet the requirements of an 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 。商业广告的内容符合要约规定的 ，视为要约 。 Article 16 Effectiveness of Offer, Offer through Electronic Message. An offer becomes effective when it reaches the offeree. 第十六条 要约到达受要约人时生效 。St. Johns Unive
26、rsity Prof. Jianming Shen Fall 2005 S CHINESE BUSINESS LAW 4 Reading 5-Contract Law (1999) When a contract is concluded by the exchange of electronic messages, if the recipient of an electronic message has designated a specific system to receive it, the time when the electronic message enters into
27、such specific system is deemed its time of arrival; if no specific system has been designated, the time when the electronic message first enters into any of the recipients systems is deemed its time of arrival. 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
28、为到达时间 。 Article 17 Withdrawal of Offer. An offer may be withdrawn. The notice of withdrawal 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 Revocation of Offer. An offer may be revoked. The notice of revocation shall reach
29、the offeree before it has dispatched a notice of 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 Irrevocable Offer. An offer may not be revoked: (1) if it expressly indicates, whether by stating a fixed time for acceptance or otherwise, that it is irrevocable; (2) if the offeree
30、has reason to regard the offer as irrevocable, and has undertaken preparation for performance. 第十九条 有下列情形之一的 ，要约不 得 撤 销 ：（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 ；（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。 Article 20 Extinguishment of Offer. An offer is extinguished in any of the following circumstances:
31、(1) The notice of rejection reaches the offeror; (2) The offeror lawfully revokes the offer; (3) The offeree fails to dispatch its acceptance at the end of the period for acceptance; (4) The offeree makes a material change to the terms of the offer. 第二十条 有下列情形之一的 ，要约失 效 ：（一）拒绝 要约的通知到达要约人 ；（二）要约人依法撤销
32、要约 ； （三）承诺期限届满 ，受要约人未作出承诺 ； （四）受要约人对要约的内容作出实质性变更 。 Article 21 Definition of Acceptance. An acceptance is the offerees manifestation of intention to assent to an offer. 第二十一条 承诺是受要约人同意要约的意思表示 。 Article 22 Mode of Acceptance; Acceptance by Conduct. An acceptance shall be manifested by notification, ex
33、cept where it may be manifested by conduct in accordance with the relevant usage or as indicated in the offer. 第二十二条 承诺应当以通知的方式作出 ，但根据交易习惯或者要约表明可以通过行为作出承诺的除外 。 Article 23 Timely Dispatch of Acceptance. An acceptance shall reach the offeror within the period prescribed in the offer. Where the offer d
34、oes not prescribe a period for acceptance, the acceptance shall reach the offeror as follows: (1) Where the offer is made orally, the acceptance shall be dispatched immediately, unless otherwise agreed by the parties; (2) Where the offer is made in a non-oral manner, the acceptance shall reach the o
35、fferor within a reasonable time. 第二十三条 承诺应当在要约确定的期 限 内 到 达 要 约 人 。要约没有确定承诺期限的 ，承诺应当依 照 下 列 规 定 到 达 ：（一）要约以对话方式作出的 ，应当即时作出承诺 ，但当事人另有约定的除外； （二）要约以非对话方式作出的 ，承诺应当在合理期限内到达 。 St. Johns University Prof. Jianming Shen Fall 2005 S CHINESE BUSINESS LAW 5 Reading 5-Contract Law (1999) Article 24 Commencement
36、of the Period for Acceptance. Where an offer is made by a letter or a telegram, the period for acceptance commences on the date shown on the letter or the date on which the telegram is handed in for dispatch. If the letter does not specify a date, the period commences on the posting date stamped on
37、the envelop. Where the offer is made through an instantaneous communication device such as telephone or facsimile, etc., the period for acceptance commences once the offer reaches the offeree. 第二十四条 要约以信件或者电报作出的 ，承诺期限自信件载明的日期或者电报交发之日开始计算 。信件未载明日期的，自投寄该信件的邮戳日期开始计算 。要约以电话 、传真等快速通讯方式作出的，承诺期限自要约到达受要约人时开
38、始计算 。 Article 25 Contract Formed upon Effectiveness of Acceptance. A contract is formed once the acceptance becomes effective. 第二十五条 承诺生效时合同成立 。 Article 26 Effectiveness of Acceptance. A notice of acceptance becomes effective once it reaches the offeror. Where the acceptance does not require notific
39、ation, it becomes effective once an act of acceptance is performed in accordance with the relevant usage or as required by the offer. Where a contract is concluded by the exchange of electronic messages, the time of arrival of the acceptance shall be governed by Paragraph 2 of Article 16 hereof. 第二十
40、六条 承诺通知到达要约人时生效 。承诺不需要通知的 ，根据交易习惯或者要约的要求作出承诺的行为时生效 。采用数据电文形式订立合同的 ，承诺到达的时间适用本法第十六条第二款的规定。 Article 27 Withdrawal of Acceptance. An acceptance may be withdrawn. The notice of withdrawal shall reach the offeror before or at the same time as the acceptance. 第二十七条 承诺可以撤回 。撤回承诺的通知应当在承诺通知到达要约人之前或者与承诺通知同时到达
41、要约人 。 Article 28 Late Acceptance. An acceptance dispatched by the offeree after expiration of the period for acceptance constitutes a new offer, unless the offeror timely advises the offeree that the acceptance is valid. 第二十八条 受要约人超过承诺期限发出承诺的 ，除要约人及时通知受要约人该承诺有效的以外 ，为新要约 。 Article 29 Delayed Transmis
42、sion of Acceptance. If the offeree dispatched its acceptance within the period for acceptance, and the acceptance, which would otherwise have reached the offeror in due time under normal circumstances, reaches the offeror after expiration of the period for acceptance due to any other reason, the acc
43、eptance is valid, unless the offeror timely advises the offeree that the acceptance has been rejected on grounds of the delay. 第二十九条 受要约人在承诺期限内发出承诺 ，按照通常情形能够及时到达要约人 ，但因其他原因承诺到达要约人时超过承诺期限的 ，除要约人及时通知受要约人因承诺超过期限不接受该承诺的以外 ，该承诺有效 。 Article 30 Acceptance Containing Material Change.The terms of the accepta
44、nce shall be identical to those of the offer. A purported acceptance dispatched by the offeree which materially alters the terms of the offer constitutes a new offer. A change in the subject matter, quantity, quality, price or remuneration, time, place and method of performance, liabilities for brea
45、ch of contract or method of dispute resolution is a material change to the terms of the offer. 第三十条 承诺的内容应当与要约的内容一致 。受要约人对要约的内容作出实质性变更的 ，为新要约 。有关合同标的 、数量 、质量 、价款或者报酬 、履行期限 、履行地点和方式 、违约责任和解决争议方法等的变更 ，是对要约内容的实质性变更。 Article 31 Acceptance Containing Non-material Changes An acceptance containing nonmater
46、ial changes to the terms of the offer is nevertheless valid and the terms thereof prevail as the terms of the contract, unless the offeror timely objects to such changes or the offer indicated that acceptance may not contain any change to the terms thereof. 第三十一条 承诺对要约的内容作出非实质性变更的 ，除要约人及时表示反对或者要约表明承
47、诺不得对要约的内 容作出任何变更的以外 ，该承诺有效 ，合同的内容以承诺的内容为准 。 St. Johns University Prof. Jianming Shen Fall 2005 S CHINESE BUSINESS LAW 6 Reading 5-Contract Law (1999) Article 32 Time of Formation in Case of Memorandum of Contract. Where the parties enter into a contract by a memorandum of contract, the contract is formed when
