Article 1 These Regulations hereof are formulated in order to further the opening up to the outside and standardise the administration of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises in accordance with such laws and regulations as the Construction Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Sino-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Sino-Foreign Cooperative Joint Ventures, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprises, the Regulations on Administration of Construction Engineering Quality and the Regulations on Administration of Reconnoitring and Designing of Construction Projects.
Article 2 These Regulations shall apply to the establishment of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises within the territory of the People’s Republic of China, the application for construction and engineering design enterprise qualifications and the administration and supervision of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises.
The term ‘foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise’ mentioned in these Regulations refers to a wholly foreign-owned construction and engineering design enterprise, or a Sino-foreign equity construction and engineering design joint venture or a Sino-foreign cooperatively construction and engineering design enterprise established within the territory of the People’s Republic of China in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations.
Article 3 A foreign investor, which intends to establish a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise within the territory of the People’s Republic of China and carry out construction and engineering design business shall, in accordance with laws, obtain the foreign-invested enterprise approval certificate from the relevant foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department and register with the State Administration of Industry and Commerce or its authorised administration of industry and commerce at local levels, and also obtain the qualification certificate of construction and engineering design enterprise from the relevant construction administration department.
Article 4 Foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises shall abide by the laws, regulations and rules of the People’s Republic of China when carrying out construction and engineering design activities within the territory of the People’s Republic of China.
The lawful operation of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises and their legal rights and interests within the territory of the People’s Republic of China shall be protected by Chinese laws, regulations and rules.
Article 5 The foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council shall be responsible for the administration of establishing foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises. The construction administration department of the State Council shall be responsible for the administration of the qualifications of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises.
The foreign trade and economic cooperation administration departments of the people’s government of provinces, autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities shall be responsible for the administration of establishment of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises within their authorized jurisdiction ; the construction administration departments of the people’s government of provinces, autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities shall, in accordance with these regulations, be responsible for the administration of the qualifications of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises within their administrative region.
Article 6 The application for and the examination and approval of the establishment of a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise and the qualifications shall be managed by a grading and categorization system.
Where an applicant is to apply for Grade A qualifications for construction and engineering design or other Grade A or Grade B qualifications for construction and engineering design, the establishment of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall be examined and approved by the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council and its qualifications shall be examined and approved by the construction administration department of the State Council. Where an applicant is to apply for Grade B qualifications for construction and engineering design or other Grade C or lower qualifications for construction and engineering design, the establishment of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall be examined and approved by the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the people’s government of the province, the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality and its qualifications shall be examined and approved by the construction administration department of the people’s government of the province, the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality.
Article 7 The procedures for the establishment of a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise and the application for construction and engineering design qualifications or other Grade A or B engineering design qualifications shall be:
(1) The applicant shall submit an application to the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the people’s government of the province, the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality where the proposed foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise is to be established.
(2) The foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the people’s government of the province, or the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality shall complete the preliminary examination within 30 days of receiving the application, and shall, if it grants the preliminary approval, submit the application to the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council for further approval.
(3) Within 10 days of receiving the application for further approval, the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council shall forward the application to the construction administrative department of the State Council for review and comments. The construction administration department of the State Council shall provide its opinion in writing within 30 days of receiving the request. Within 30 days of receiving the response, the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council shall decide whether or not to approve the application and express such a decision in written form. If the application is approved, a foreign-invested enterprise certificate shall be granted; if the application is not approved, reasons for the disapproval shall be given in written form.
(4) Within 30 days of receiving the approval certificate, the applicant shall carry out enterprise registration with the relevant registration department.
(5) After obtaining business license for the legal entity, if the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise is to apply for the construction and engineering design enterprise qualifications, the application shall be carried out in accordance with the Regulations on Administration of Construction and Engineering Design Enterprise Qualifications.
Article 8 The procedures for the establishment of a construction and engineering design enterprise and the application for Grade B qualifications and Grade C or lower qualifications for engineering design shall be administered by the construction administration department and the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the people’s government of the province, or the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality based on local conditions with reference to Article 7 of these Regulations and Regulations on Administration of Construction and Engineering Design Enterprise Qualifications.
Examination and approval of the qualifications of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises by the construction administration departments of the People’s government of provinces, autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities shall be put on file with the construction administration department of the State Council within 30 days after the approval is given.
Article 9 The application by a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise to upgrade its qualifications or to add additional engineering qualifications shall be made to the relevant construction administration department in accordance with relevant regulations.
Article 10 An applicant which intends to establish a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall submit the following documents to the relevant foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department:
(1) Application forms to establish a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise signed by the investor’s legal representative;
(2) The feasibility study report prepared or accepted by the investor;
(3) The contract for establishment of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise and the articles of association signed by the investor’s legal representative (only the the articles of association are required for the establishment of a wholly foreign-owned construction and engineering design enterprise);
(4) The notification of pre-verification of the name of the enterprise;
(5) Documentary evidence of legal entity registration of the investor to carry out construction and engineering design in its home country or region and its bank credential letter;
(6) Appointment letters and documentary evidence of the investor’s designated chairman and members of the board of directors, managers and technical managers etc.; and
(7) Balance sheets and profit and loss accounts of the investor over the past three years audited by a certified accountant or an accounting firm.
Article 11 The applicant applying for foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise qualifications shall submit the following documents to the relevant construction administration department:
(1) Application forms for the qualifications for a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise;
(2) The approval certificate for the establishment of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise;
(3) The business license for the legal entity;
(4) Documentary evidence of legal entity registration of the investor to carry out construction and engineering design in its home country or region and its bank credential letter;
(5) Professional qualification certificate issued by his home country or region and the individual or enterprise construction and engineering design track record and documentary evidence of its reputation issued by the relevant governmental department or professional institution, association or notary public; and
(6) Other documents as required by Regulations on Administration of Construction and Engineering Design Enterprise Qualifications.
Article 12 All materials required to be submitted by an applicant under these Regulations shall be in Chinese. If the original documentary evidence is in a foreign language, a Chinese translation shall be provided.
Article 13 The foreign investor or the foreign service provider of a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall be an enterprise engaged in construction and engineering design or a certified architect or a certified engineer in his or her home country.
Article 14 The total capital contribution of the Chinese party to a Sin-foreign equity construction and engineering design joint venture or a Sino-foreign cooperatively construction and engineering design joint venture shall not be less than 25% of the registered capital.
Article 15 The criteria of grading of qualifications of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises shall be in accordance with the requirements of grading of qualifications of construction and engineering design enterprise issued by the construction administration department of the State Council.
Where a wholly foreign-owned construction and engineering design enterprise applies for the construction and engineering design enterprise qualifications, its foreign service providers who have been qualified as certified architects or certified engineers in China shall not be less than 1/4 of the total certified professionals required under the qualification grading criteria, and the foreign service providers who have the relevant design experience shall not be less than 1/4 of the total key technical personnel required under the qualification grading criteria.
Where a Sin-foreign equity construction and engineering design joint venture or a Sino-foreign cooperatively managed construction and engineering design enterprise applies for the construction and engineering design enterprise qualifications, its foreign service providers who have been qualified as certified architects or certified engineers in China shall not be less than 1/8 of the total registered professionals required under the qualification grading criteria, and its foreign service providers who have the relevant design experience shall not be less than 1/8 of the total key technical staff required under the qualification grading criteria.
Article 16 Each of the architects and engineers certified in China and the key technical personnel of the foreign service provider in a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall reside within the territory of the People’s Republic of China for no less than a cumulative period of 6 months each year.
Article 17 Where a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise carrying out construction and engineering design activities within the territory of the People’s Republic of China violates the Construction Law of the People’s Republic of China, Regulations on Administration of Construction Engineering Quality, Regulations on Administration of Prospecting and Designing of Construction Projects and Regulations on Administration of Construction Engineering Prospecting Design Enterprise Qualifications and other relevant laws, regulations and rules, it shall be penalized in accordance with relevant provisions.
Article 18 Investors from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region or Taiwan shall establish construction and engineering design enterprises and carry out businesses in other provinces, autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities in accordance with these Regulations, unless it is otherwise provided by laws, regulations and the State Council.
Article 19 The timing for accepting and processing the application for establishment of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises shall be determined by the construction administration department of the State Council and the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council.
Article 20 The construction administration department of the State Council and the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council shall be responsible for interpreting these Regulations in accordance with their functions.
Article 21 These Regulations shall go into force on 1 December 2002. Regulations on Administration of Establishment of Sino-Foreign Project Design Joint Venture (File No. 180, 1992) shall be repealed at the same time.
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杨春宝一级律师简介
杨春宝一级律师，大成上海高级合伙人、资本市场部主任、国资基金研究中心主任，大成中国区私募基金专业带头人、科技与文化法律研究中心联合牵头人。执业30余年，长期从事私募基金、投融资、并购重组法律服务，尤其对对赌研究颇深且具有非常丰富的实战经验，并专注于金融机构股权投资业务。2004年起多次入选The Legal 500"私募基金"和"公司与商业"等境内外各类律师榜单，代理的中国法院首例适用外国法律审理外国公司的董事损害小股东权益纠纷案入选上海高院发布的《上海法院域外法查明典型案例》和威科先行"要案头条"。入选上海涉外法律人才库、上海市司法局鼎新法治人才库、上海国有企业改制法律顾问团，具有上市公司独立董事任职资格，系多家知名高校的兼职教授或兼职研究生导师及上海市商务委跨国经营人才培训班讲师。出版《私募股权投资基金风险防控操作实务》等16本投融资法律专著。了解更多常见法律问题
外资建筑工程设计企业设立需满足哪些条件？
外资建筑工程设计企业是依中国法律设立的中外合资、合作或外商独资工程设计企业。设立必须同时完成商务审批、工商登记和资质认定。商务部门颁发外商投资企业批准证书，工商部门办理营业执照，建设部门核发工程设计资质证书。三者缺一不可。根据文章规定，设立程序上，申请人先向省级商务主管部门提交申请，省级部门30日内初审，通过后报国务院商务部门。国务院商务部门10日内转建设部门征求意见，建设部门30日内书面反馈，商务部门30日内决定是否批准。批准后30日内办理工商登记，再按资质管理规定申请设计资质。实务中需注意资质等级对应审批层级，甲级和部分乙级由国务院部门审批，其他由省级部门审批。申请人应提前准备完整材料，关注时限要求，避免因初审延误影响进度。同时注意外资准入负面清单要求，确保经营范围合规。
外资工程设计资质如何分级审批？
工程设计资质实行分级分类管理。资质等级通常分为甲级、乙级、丙级等，不同等级对应不同承接业务范围。外资企业申请资质时，审批机关按照资质等级划分中央与地方权限。甲级及部分乙级资质由国务院建设主管部门审批，其他乙级及以下资质由省级建设主管部门审批。这种制度旨在统一标准同时兼顾地方实际。文章明确，申请人若申请甲级或国务院建设主管部门负责的其他甲级、乙级资质，企业设立由国务院商务部门审批，资质由国务院建设部门审批。若申请乙级或丙级及以下资质，企业设立由省级商务部门审批，资质由省级建设部门审批。审批过程中，国务院建设部门在30日内出具意见，商务部门在收到意见后30日内作出决定。企业应根据拟申请资质的等级，确定向哪级部门提交材料。申请前可对照资质标准核查人员、业绩、技术条件。注意中央与地方审批环节衔接，特别是国务院商务部门转建设部门征求意见的程序，需要预留充分时间。资质获批后还要持续满足动态核查要求，避免资质被撤销。
外资设计企业有哪些法定义务和权益？
外资工程设计企业在中国境内从事设计活动，必须遵守中国法律、法规和规章。同时，其合法经营和合法权益受中国法律保护。这里的权益包括依法开展业务、取得资质、参与市场竞争等。义务则包括合规经营、遵守行业规范、接受建设主管部门监管等。法律保护与合规要求是并行的，企业不能只主张保护而忽视义务。文章第二条、第四条体现了这一原则。规章适用于外资设计企业的设立、资质申请及监督管理。外资企业被定义为中外合资、合作或外商独资形式。在审批程序中，企业须先取得批准证书，再登记注册，最后申领资质。任何环节缺失都可能导致经营活动不合法，无法获得法律保护。外资企业应建立内部合规审查机制，定期检查证照有效性，确保资质证书载明的业务范围与实际承接项目一致。若发生股权变更、法定代表人变更等事项，需要及时办理变更手续。同时应关注外商投资管理政策调整，避免因政策变化导致合规风险。在权益受损时，可依据中国法律寻求行政或司法救济。
以上内容仅供参考，不构成法律意见。如需专业法律服务，请联系杨春宝一级律师：chambers.yang@dentons.cn
