Chapter 1 General provisions
Article 1 These Regulations hereof are formulated to further the opening up to the outside and standardise the administration of foreign-invested construction enterprises in accordance with such laws and regulations as the Construction Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Tendering and Bidding 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 and the Regulations on Administration of Construction and Engineering Quality.
Article 2 These regulations shall apply to the establishment of foreign–invested construction enterprises within the territory of the People’s Republic of China, the application for construction enterprise qualifications and the administration and supervision of foreign–invested construction enterprises.
The term ‘foreign-invested construction enterprise’ mentioned in these regulations refers to a wholly foreign-owned construction enterprise, or a Sino-foreign equity construction joint venture or a Sino-foreign cooperative construction 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 enterprise within the territory of the People’s Republic of China and conduct construction business, shall, in accordance with laws, obtain the 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 the qualification certificate from the relevant construction administration department.
Article 4 Foreign-invested construction enterprises which engage in construction business within the territory of the People’s Republic of China shall abide by the laws, regulations and rules of the People’s Republic of China.
The lawful operation of foreign-invested construction 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 the establishment of foreign-invested construction enterprises. The construction administration department of the State Council shall be responsible for the administration of the qualifications of foreign–invested construction 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 the establishment of foreign-invested construction enterprises within their authorised jurisdiction; the construction administration departments of the people’s government of the provinces, or autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities shall, in accordance with these Regulations, be responsible for the administration of qualifications of foreign–invested construction enterprises within their administrative regions.
Chapter 2 Application for and Examination and Approval of Establishment of Foreign–invested Construction Enterprises and their Qualifications
Article 6 The application for and the examination and approval of the establishment of foreign-invested construction enterprises and their qualifications shall be managed by a grading and categorization system.
Where an applicant is to apply to establish a contractor with Super Grade or Grade A qualifications or to establish a specialised contractor with Grade A qualifications, the establishment of the foreign-invested construction 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 to establish a contractor or a specialised contractor with Grade B or lower qualifications or any of the subcontractor qualifications, the establishment of the foreign–invested construction 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.
Where the Chinese investor to a proposed Sino-foreign equity construction joint venture or a Sino-foreign cooperative construction enterprise is an enterprise administered by the central government, the establishment of the joint venture 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.
Article 7 The procedures for the establishment of a foreign–invested construction enterprise as a contractor with Super Grade or Grade A qualifications or a specialised contractor with Grade A qualifications are:
(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 enterprise is to be established.
(2) The foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the people’s government of the province, 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 administration department of the State Council shall forward the application to the construction administration 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 register with the relevant registration department.
(5) After obtaining the business license for the legal entity, the application by the foreign-invested construction enterprise for qualification approval shall be conducted in accordance with Regulations on Administration of Construction Enterprise Qualifications.
Article 8 The procedures for the establishment of a foreign-invested construction enterprise as a contractor or a specialised contractor with Grade B or lower qualifications or any of the subcontractor qualifications 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, 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 Enterprise Qualifications.
Examination and approval of qualifications of the foreign-invested construction enterprise by the construction administration department of the people’s government of the province, the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality shall be filed 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 enterprise for upgrading its qualifications or adding additional qualifications in addition to major items 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 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 enterprise signed by the investor’s legal representative;
(2) The feasibility study report prepared or accepted by the investors;
(3) The contract for the establishment of a foreign-invested construction enterprise and the articles of association signed by the investor’s legal representative (only the articles of association is required for the establishment of a wholly foreign-owned construction enterprise);
(4) The notification on pre-verification of the name of the enterprise;
(5) Documentary evidence of legal entity registration and bank credential letter of the investor;
(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 enterprise qualifications shall submit the following documents to the relevant construction administration department:
(1) Application forms for the foreign-invested construction enterprise qualifications;
(2) The approval certificate for the establishment of the foreign-invested construction enterprise;
(3) The business licence for the legal entity;
(4) The bank credential letter of the investor;
(5) Appointment letters and documentary evidence of the investor’s designated chairman and members of the board of directors, the enterprise’s financial manager, operations managers and technical managers etc.; and
(6) Balance sheets and profit and loss accounts of the investor over the past three years audited by a certified accountant or an accounting firm.
(7) Other documents required
Article 12 The total capital contribution of the Chinese party to a Sino-foreign equity construction joint venture or a Sino-foreign cooperative construction enterprise shall not be less than 25% of the registered capital.
Article 13 Qualifications of Sino-foreign equity construction joint ventures and Sino-foreign cooperative construction enterprises established prior to the issuance of these Regulations are required to be re-examined and ratified in accordance with these Regulations and Regulations on Administration of Construction Enterprise Qualifications.
Article 14 All documents 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.
Chapter 3 Scope of Contracting
Article 15 Wholly foreign-owned construction enterprises may only undertake the following types of construction projects within the scope of their qualifications:
(1) Construction projects funded totally by foreign investments, foreign grants or foreign investments and grants;
(2) Construction projects financed by international financial organisations and awarded through international tendering process in accordance with the provisions of the loan agreement;
(3) Sino-foreign jointly constructed projects where the foreign investment is equal to or greater than 50%; Sino-foreign jointly constructed projects where the foreign investment is less than 50% but which Chinese construction enterprises cannot undertake independently due to technical difficulties subject to the approval of the construction administration departments of the people’s government of provinces, or autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities;
(4) China-invested construction projects which Chinese construction enterprises cannot undertake independently due to technical difficulties. Such projects may be jointly undertaken by Chinese and foreign construction enterprises subject to the approval of the construction administration departments of the people’s government of provinces, or autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities.
Article 16 Sino-foreign equity construction joint ventures and Sino-foreign cooperative construction enterprises shall undertake construction projects within the permitted scope of their grades of qualifications.
Chapter 4 Supervision and Administration
Article 17 The criteria of grading of qualifications of foreign-invested construction enterprises shall be in accordance with the criteria of grading of construction enterprise qualifications formulated and issued by the construction administration department of the State Council.
Article 18 Where a foreign-invested construction enterprise undertakes a construction project as the contractor, it shall itself complete the main structure of the project.
Article 19 Where a foreign-invested construction enterprise contracts for construction projects in the form of a consortium with other construction enterprises, the consortium shall contract for projects within the permitted scope of the lower qualification grade.
Article 20 Where a foreign-invested construction enterprise contracts for construction projects beyond the permitted scope of its qualifications in violation of Article 15 of these Regulations, a fine at an amount between 2% to 4% of the construction contract price shall be collected. An order to suspend its business operation and to correct the wrongdoings may also be issued and its qualification certificate may be demoted. In serious situations, the qualification certificate shall be revoked and any proceeds illegally obtained shall be confiscated.
Article 21 Where a foreign-invested construction enterprise carrying out construction business violates the Construction Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Tendering and Bidding Law of the People’s Republic of China, Regulations on Administration of Engineering Construction Quality and Regulations on Administration of Construction Enterprise Qualifications and other relevant laws, regulations and rules, it shall be penalised in accordance with relevant provisions.
Chapter 5 Supplemental Provisions
Article 22 For a foreign enterprise which has already obtained a Foreign Enterprise Qualification Certificate for Contracting for Construction Projects prior to these Regulations come into force, it may apply for a construction enterprise qualification of an appropriate grade based on its track record of project contracting within the territory of the People’s Republic of China when establishing a foreign-invested construction enterprise.
Where a foreign enterprise which has already established a foreign invested construction enterprise within the territory of the People’s Republic of China as stated in Paragraph 1 of this Article is to establish a new foreign-invested construction enterprise, the qualification grade of the new foreign-invested construction enterprise shall be determined in accordance with Regulations on Administration of Construction Enterprise Qualifications.
Article 23 Investors from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region or Taiwan shall establish construction enterprises and carry out construction businesses in other provinces, autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities in accordance with these Regulations, unless it is otherwise provided by laws, regulations or the State Council.
Article 24 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 interpretation of these Regulations in accordance with their respective functions.
Article 25 These Regulations shall come into force on 1 December 2002.
Article 26 The Tentative Measures on Administration of Foreign Enterprise Qualifications for Contracting for Construction Projects Within the Territory of China issued by the Ministry of Construction (Decree No. 32 of the Ministry of Construction) shall be repealed as of 1 October 2003.
Article 27 Provisions on Establishment of Foreign-invested Construction Enterprises (File No. 533, 1995) jointly issued by the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation shall be repealed as of 1 December 2002.
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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
外商投资建筑业企业包括哪些类型？
外商投资建筑业企业是指依照中国法律法规在中国境内设立的外商独资建筑业企业、中外合资建筑业企业和中外合作建筑业企业。这一概念的核心在于企业资本来源具有涉外因素，且经营范围限定于建筑活动。其适用范围涵盖企业的设立行为、建筑业企业资质的申请，以及主管部门对这类企业实施的监督管理。与内资建筑企业相比，外商投资建筑业企业在设立程序上需额外取得外经贸主管部门的批准证书，在资质审批上同样须遵循建设主管部门的资质管理规则。理解这一企业类型划分，是判断后续审批层级、申请材料和合规义务的前提。文章明确将三类企业统一纳入调整范围，意味着无论采取独资、合资还是合作形式，均须遵守相同的设立与资质管理框架，不存在因投资形式不同而豁免审批的情形。
文章在总则部分具体列举了外商独资建筑业企业、中外合资建筑业企业和中外合作建筑业企业三种形式，并明确这些企业须在中国境内依照中国法律法规设立。同时，文章指出这些规定的适用事项包括企业设立、建筑业企业资质申请以及监督管理三个环节。这意味着，一家中外合资建筑企业从谈判设立到取得资质、再到日常经营接受监管，全程均受该规则约束。文章还强调，外国投资者在中国境内设立外资建筑企业并从事建筑活动，必须依法取得外经贸主管部门的批准证书，向工商行政管理机关登记，并取得建设主管部门的资质证书。这三项要求构成了外资建筑企业合法进入市场的基本门槛，任何一项缺失都可能导致企业无法合法承接工程。
在实务操作中，投资者首先应根据自身资本结构选择独资、合资或合作形式，因为不同形式在审批材料、合同安排和治理结构上存在差异。其次，应提前确认拟申请的资质等级，因为资质等级直接决定审批层级是国务院主管部门还是省级主管部门。再次，应注意批准证书、营业执照和资质证书的取得顺序，通常需先取得批准证书，再办理登记，最后申请资质。常见争议焦点在于外资比例变化是否影响企业性质认定，以及合作企业中方出资不到位时外方权益如何保障。风险防范方面，建议在合资或合作合同中明确出资进度、违约责任和退出机制，并确保审批文件与合同内容一致，避免因文件矛盾导致审批受阻或后续经营纠纷。
外资建筑企业资质审批如何分级？
外资建筑企业资质审批实行分级分类管理体制，核心规则是根据企业申请的资质等级和资质类别确定审批机关。具体而言，申请设立超级或一级资质承包企业、或一级资质专业承包企业的，其设立由国务院外经贸主管部门审批，资质由国务院建设主管部门审批；申请设立二级及以下资质承包企业、专业承包企业或分包企业资质的，其设立由省级外经贸主管部门审批，资质由省级建设主管部门审批。此外，如果中外合资或中外合作建筑企业的中方投资者属于中央管理企业，则无论资质等级，其设立均由国务院外经贸主管部门审批，资质由国务院建设主管部门审批。这一分级规则的关键在于资质等级越高、企业规模越大，审批层级越高，体现了对高风险和高能力要求企业的从严管理。
文章具体规定了审批程序：以申请超级或一级资质承包企业、一级专业承包企业为例，申请人应先向拟设立企业所在地省级外经贸主管部门提交申请，该部门在收到申请后三十日内完成初审，同意后报国务院外经贸主管部门审批。国务院外经贸主管部门收到申请后十日内转国务院建设主管部门征求意见，建设主管部门在三十日内书面反馈意见，外经贸主管部门在收到反馈后三十日内作出批准或不批准的决定，批准的颁发外商投资企业批准证书，不批准的书面说明理由。申请人取得批准证书后三十日内办理登记，取得法人营业执照后按资质管理规定申请资质审批。对于二级及以下资质，审批程序由省级主管部门负责，具体流程类似但层级较低。文章还特别指出，中方投资者为中央管理企业时，审批层级提升至国务院主管部门。
实务中，企业应首先准确判断自身申请的资质等级和类别，避免因误判审批层级而提交错误机关导致延误。其次，应注意审批时限，省级初审三十日、国务院外经贸主管部门转送十日、建设主管部门反馈三十日、外经贸主管部门决定三十日，企业可据此合理安排申请时间。常见争议焦点包括资质等级评定标准是否透明、审批机关意见不一致时如何处理，以及中央管理企业认定标准是否明确。风险防范方面，建议企业在申请前与主管部门充分沟通，确认资质等级和审批路径；同时确保申请材料真实完整，特别是企业资本、技术人员和工程业绩等核心指标，避免因材料不实被驳回或撤销资质。此外，取得资质后应持续满足资质标准，否则可能面临资质降级或撤销风险。
外资建筑企业须遵守哪些法律义务？
外资建筑企业在中国境内从事建筑活动，须遵守中国法律、法规和规章，这是其基本法律义务。这一义务的核心在于外资企业不享有治外法权，其在中国境内的经营活动必须接受中国法律管辖。文章明确，外资建筑企业的合法经营和合法权益受中国法律、法规和规章保护，意味着遵守法律与获得保护是相辅相成的。具体法律义务涵盖多个层面：在设立阶段，须依法取得外经贸主管部门批准证书、办理工商登记并取得建设主管部门资质证书；在经营阶段，须遵守建筑法、招标投标法、建设工程质量管理条例等法律法规，确保工程质量、安全生产和公平竞争；在资质管理方面，须持续满足资质标准，不得超越资质等级承揽工程。这些义务的履行情况直接关系到企业能否持续合法经营。
文章在总则中明确规定，外资建筑企业在中国境内从事建筑活动应遵守中国法律、法规和规章，同时其合法经营和合法权益受中国法律保护。文章还指出，外国投资者设立外资建筑企业须依法取得批准证书、登记并取得资质证书，这三项要求本身就是法律义务的具体体现。此外，文章提到国务院外经贸主管部门负责设立管理，国务院建设主管部门负责资质管理，省级主管部门负责辖区内相应管理，这构成了外资建筑企业的监管体系。在审批程序中，文章要求申请人提交申请、接受初审和审批、办理登记、申请资质，每一步都是法定义务。如果企业未取得批准证书或资质证书即从事建筑活动，将构成违法经营，可能面临行政处罚、合同无效等法律后果。文章虽未详细列举处罚措施，但通过确立审批和资质制度，实质上设定了合规底线。
实务中，外资建筑企业应建立合规管理体系，重点关注资质维护、招标投标合规、工程质量和安全生产。常见争议焦点包括外资企业是否适用内资企业相同的招标投标规则、资质标准是否对外资企业有额外要求，以及跨省经营时资质是否需要备案。风险防范方面，建议企业定期审查自身资质条件，确保注册资本、专业技术人员和工程业绩持续达标；在投标和承接工程前核实项目是否要求特定资质等级；在合资合作中明确各方合规责任，避免因一方违规导致整体受罚。此外，企业应关注法律政策变化，特别是外商投资负面清单和建筑市场准入政策的调整，及时调整经营策略，确保始终在合法框架内开展业务。
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
