合同法英文版.doc

Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China Order [1999] No.15 of the President of the People’s Republic of China Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China has been adopted at the Second Session of the Ninth National People’s Congress on March 15, 1999, and is hereby promulgated, it will come into force as of October 1, 1999. President of the People’s Republic of China: Jiang Zemin March 15, 1999 Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China General Provisions Chapter 1 General Provisions Article 1 This Law is enacted in order to protect the lawful rights and interests of the contracting parties, to maintain social and economic order, and to promote the process of socialist modernization. Article 2 A contract in this Law refers to an agreement among natural persons, legal persons or other organizations as equal parties for the establishment, modification of a relationship involving the civil rights and obligations of such entities. Agreements concerning personal relationships such as marriage,adoption, guardianship, etc.shall be governed by the provisions in other laws. Article 3 Contracting parties shall have equal legal status, and no party may impose its will on the other party. Article 4 The parties have the right to lawfully enter into a contract of their own free will in accordance with the law, and no unit or individual may illegally interfere therewith. Article 5 The parties shall adhere to the principle of fairness in deciding their respective rights and obligations. Article 6 The parties shall observe the principle of honesty and good faith in exercising their rights and performing their obligations. Article 7 In concluding and performing a contract, the parties shall comply with the laws and administrative regulations, respect social ethics, and shall not disrupt the social and economic order or impair the public interests. Article 8 A lawfully established contract shall be legally binding on the parties thereto, each of whom shall perform its ow