中国合同法英文版讲课稿.doc

Good is good, but better carries it.精益求精，善益求善。中国合同法英文版-中国合同法英文版CONTRACTLAWOFP.R.CHINAAdoptedandPromulgatedbytheSecondSessionoftheNinthNationalPeoplesCongressonMarch15,1999.Translated&CompiledbyJohnJiang&HenryLiuGENERALPRINCIPLESChapterOne:GeneralProvisionsArticle1PurposeThisLawisformulatedinordertoprotectthelawfulrightsandinterestsofcontractparties,tosafeguardsocialandeconomicorder,andtopromotesocialistmodernization.Article2DefinitionofContract;ExclusionsForpurposesofthisLaw,acontractisanagreementbetweennaturalpersons,legalpersonsorotherorganizationswithequalstanding,forthepurposeofestablishing,altering,ordischargingarelationshipofcivilrightsandobligations.Anagreementconcerninganypersonalrelationshipsuchasmarriage,adoption,guardianship,etc.shallbegovernedbyotherapplicablelaws.Article3EqualStandingofPartiesContractpartiesenjoyequallegalstandingandneitherpartymayimposeitswillontheotherparty.Article4RighttoEnterintoContractVoluntarilyApartyisentitledtoenterintoacontractvoluntarilyunderthelaw,andnoentityorindividualmayunlawfullyinterferewithsuchright.Article5FairnessThepartiesshallabidebytheprincipleoffairnessinprescribingtheirrespectiverightsandobligations.Article6GoodFaithThepartiesshallabidebytheprincipleofgoodfaithinexercisingtheirrightsandperformingtheirobligations.Article7LegalityInconcludingorperformingacontract,thepartiesshallabidebytherelevantlawsandadministrativeregulations,aswellasobservesocialethics,andmaynotdisruptsocialandeconomicorderorharmthepublicinterests.Article8BindingEffect;LegalProtectionAlawfullyformedcontractislegallybindingontheparties.Thepartiesshallperformtheirrespectiveobligationsinaccordancewiththecontract,andneitherpartymayarbitrarilyamendorterminatethecontract.Alawfullyformedcontractisprotectedbylaw.ChapterTwo:FormationofContractsArticle9Capacity;ContractthroughAgentInenteringintoacontract,thepartiesshallhavetheappropriatecapacitiesforcivilrightsandcivilacts.Apartymayappointanagenttoenterintoacontractonitsbehalfunderthelaw.Article10FormsofContract;WritingRequirementAcontractmaybemadeinawriting,inanoralconversation,aswellasinanyotherform.Acontractshallbeinwritingifarelevantlaworadministrativeregulationsorequires.Acontractshallbeinwritingifthepartieshavesoagreed.Article11DefinitionofWritingAwritingmeansamemorandumofcontract,letterorelectronicmessage(includingtelegram,telex,facsimile,electronicdataexchangeandelectronicmail),etc.whichiscapableofexpressingitscontentsinatangibleform.Article12TermsofContractThetermsofacontractshallbeprescribedbytheparties,andgenerallyincludethefollowing:(i)namesofthepartiesandthedomicilesthereof;(ii)subjectmatter;(iii)quantity;(iv)quality;(v)priceorremuneration;(vi)time,placeandmethodofperformance;(vii)liabilitiesforbreachofcontract;(viii)methodofdisputeresolution.Thepartiesmayenterintoacontractbyreferencingamodelcontractfortherelevantcontractcategory.Article13Offer-AcceptanceAcontractisconcludedbytheexchangeofanofferandanacceptance.Article14DefinitionofOfferAnofferisapartysmanifestationofintentiontoenterintoacontractwiththeotherparty,whichshallcomplywiththefollowing:(i)Itstermsarespecificanddefinite;(ii)Itindicatesthatuponacceptancebytheofferee,theofferorwillbeboundthereby.Article15InvitationtoOfferAninvitationtoofferisapartysmanifestationofintentiontoinvitetheotherpartytomakeanofferthereto.Adeliveredpricelist,announcementofauction,callfortender,prospectus,orcommercialadvertisement,etc.isaninvitationtooffer.Acommercialadvertisementisdeemedanofferifitscontentsmeettherequirementsofanoffer.Article16EffectivenessofOffer,OfferthroughElectronicMessageAnofferbecomeseffectivewhenitreachestheofferee.Whenacontractisconcludedbytheexchangeofelectronicmessages,iftherecipientofanelectronicmessagehasdesignatedaspecificsystemtoreceiveit,thetimewhentheelectronicmessageentersintosuchspecificsystemisdeemeditstimeofarrival;ifnospecificsystemhasbeendesignated,thetimewhentheelectronicmessagefirstentersintoanyoftherecipientssystemsisdeemeditstimeofarrival.Article17WithdrawalofOfferAnoffermaybewithdrawn.Thenoticeofwithdrawalshallreachtheoffereebeforeoratthesametimeastheoffer.Article18RevocationofOfferAnoffermayberevoked.Thenoticeofrevocationshallreachtheoffereebeforeithasdispatchedanoticeofacceptance.Article19IrrevocableOfferAnoffermaynotberevoked:(i)ifitexpresslyindicates,whetherbystatingafixedtimeforacceptanceorotherwise,thatitisirrevocable;(ii)iftheoffereehasreasontoregardtheofferasirrevocable,andhasundertakenpreparationforperformance.Article20ExtinguishmentofOfferAnofferisextinguishedinanyofthefollowingcircumstances:(i)Thenoticeofrejectionreachestheofferor;(ii)Theofferorlawfullyrevokestheoffer;(iii)Theoffereefailstodispatchitsacceptanceattheendoftheperiodforacceptance;(iv)Theoffereemakesamaterialchangetothetermsoftheoffer.Article21DefinitionofAcceptanceAnacceptanceistheoffereesmanifestationofintentiontoassenttoanoffer.Article22ModeofAcceptance;AcceptancebyConductAnacceptanceshallbemanifestedbynotification,exceptwhereitmaybemanifestedbyconductinaccordancewiththerelevantusageorasindicatedintheoffer.Article23TimelyDispatchofAcceptanceAnacceptanceshallreachtheofferorwithintheperiodprescribedintheoffer.Wheretheofferdoesnotprescribeaperiodforacceptance,theacceptanceshallreachtheofferorasfollows:(i)Wheretheofferismadeorally,theacceptanceshallbedispatchedimmediately,unlessotherwiseagreedbytheparties;(ii)Wheretheofferismadeinanon-oralmanner,theacceptanceshallreachtheofferorwithinareasonabletime.Article24CommencementofthePeriodforAcceptanceWhereanofferismadebyaletteroratelegram,theperiodforacceptancecommencesonthedateshownontheletterorthedateonwhichthetelegramishandedinfordispatch.Iftheletterdoesnotspecifyadate,theperiodcommencesonthepostingdatestampedontheenvelop.Wheretheofferismadethroughaninstantaneouscommunicationdevicesuchastelephoneorfacsimile,etc.,theperiodforacceptancecommencesoncetheofferreachestheofferee.Article25ContractFormeduponEffectivenessofAcceptanceAcontractisformedoncetheacceptancebecomeseffective.Article26EffectivenessofAcceptanceAnoticeofacceptancebecomeseffectiveonceitreachestheofferor.Wheretheacceptancedoesnotrequirenotification,itbecomeseffectiveonceanactofacceptanceisperformedinaccordancewiththerelevantusageorasrequiredbytheoffer.Whereacontractisconcludedbytheexchangeofelectronicmessages,thetimeofarrivaloftheacceptanceshallbegovernedbyParagraph2ofArticle16hereof.Article27WithdrawalofAcceptanceAnacceptancemaybewithdrawn.Thenoticeofwithdrawalshallreachtheofferorbeforeoratthesametimeastheacceptance.Article28LateAcceptanceAnacceptancedispatchedbytheoffereeafterexpirationoftheperiodforacceptanceconstitutesanewoffer,unlesstheofferortimelyadvisestheoffereethattheacceptanceisvalid.Article29DelayedTransmissionofAcceptanceIftheoffereedispatcheditsacceptancewithintheperiodforacceptance,andtheacceptance,whichwouldotherwisehavereachedtheofferorinduetimeundernormalcircumstances,reachestheofferorafterexpirationoftheperiodforacceptanceduetoanyotherreason,theacceptanceisvalid,unlesstheofferortimelyadvisestheoffereethattheacceptancehasbeenrejectedongroundsofthedelay.Article30AcceptanceContainingMaterialChangeThetermsoftheacceptanceshallbeidenticaltothoseoftheoffer.Apurportedacceptancedispatchedbytheoffereewhichmateriallyaltersthetermsoftheofferconstitutesanewoffer.Achangeinthesubjectmatter,quantity,quality,priceorremuneration,time,placeandmethodofperformance,liabilitiesforbreachofcontractormethodofdisputeresolutionisamaterialchangetothetermsoftheoffer.Article31AcceptanceContainingNon-materialChangesAnacceptancecontainingnonmaterialchangestothetermsoftheofferisneverthelessvalidandthetermsthereofprevailasthetermsofthecontract,unlesstheofferortimelyobjectstosuchchangesortheofferindicatedthatacceptancemaynotcontainanychangetothetermsthereof.Article32TimeofFormationinCaseofMemorandumofContractWherethepartiesenterintoacontractbyamemorandumofcontract,thecontractisformedwhenitissignedorsealedbytheparties.Article33TimeofFormationinCaseofLettersorElectronicMessages;ConfirmationLetterWherethepartiesenterintoacontractbytheexchangeoflettersorelectronicmessages,onepartymayrequireexecutionofaconfirmationletterbeforethecontractisformed.Thecontractisformeduponexecutionoftheconfirmationletter.Article34PlaceofFormation;ElectronicMessagesTheplacewheretheacceptancebecomeseffectiveistheplaceofformationofacontract.Whereacontractisconcludedbytheexchangeofelectronicmessages,therecipientsmainplaceofbusinessistheplaceofformationofthecontract;iftherecipientdoesnothaveamainplaceofbusiness,itshabitualresidenceistheplaceofformationofthecontract.Ifthepartieshaveagreedotherwise,suchagreementprevails.Article35PlaceofFormationinCaseofMemorandumofContractWhereacontractisconcludedbyamemorandumofcontract,itsplaceofformationistheplacewherethepartiessignorsealthecontract.Article36EffectofFailuretoConcludeContractinWritingWhereacontractistobeconcludedbyawritingasrequiredbytherelevantlaworadministrativeregulationorasagreedbytheparties,ifthepartiesfailedtoconcludethecontractinwritingbutonepartyhasperformeditsmainobligationandtheotherpartyhasacceptedtheperformance,thecontractisformed.Article37EffectofFailuretoSigninCaseofMemorandumofContractWhereacontractistobeconcludedbyamemorandumofcontract,ifpriortosigningorsealingofthecontract,onepartyhasperformeditsmainobligationandtheotherpartyhasacceptedtheperformance,thecontractisformed.Article38ContractunderStateMandatoryPlanWherethestatehas,inlightofitsrequirements,issuedamandatoryplanorstatepurchaseorder,therelevantlegalpersonsandotherorganizationsshallenterintoacontractbasedontherightsandobligationsofthepartiesprescribedbytherelevantlawsandadministrativeregulations.Article39StandardTerms;DutytoCallAttentionWhereacontractisconcludedbywayofstandardterms,thepartysupplyingthestandardtermsshallabidebytheprincipleoffairnessinprescribingtherightsandobligationsofthepartiesandshall,inareasonablemanner,calltheotherpartysattentiontotheprovision(s)wherebysuchpartysliabilitiesareexcludedorlimited,andshallexplainsuchprovision(s)uponrequestbytheotherparty.Standardtermsarecontractprovisionswhichwerepreparedinadvancebyapartyforrepeateduse,andwhicharenotnegotiatedwiththeotherpartyinthecourseofconcludingthecontract.Article40InvalidityofCertainStandardTermsAstandardtermisinvalidifitfallsintoanyofthecircumstancessetforthinArticle52andArticle53hereof,orifitexcludestheliabilitiesofthepartysupplyingsuchterm,increasestheliabilitiesoftheotherparty,ordeprivestheotherpartyofanyofitsmaterialrights.Article41DisputeConcerningConstructionofStandardTermIncaseofanydisputeconcerningtheconstructionofastandardterm,suchtermshallbeinterpretedinaccordancewithcommonsense.Ifthestandardtermissubjecttotwoormoreinterpretations,itshallbeinterpretedagainstthepartysupplyingit.Ifadiscrepancyexistsbetweenthestandardtermandanon-standardterm,thenon-standardtermprevails.Article42Pre-contractLiabilitiesWhereinthecourseofconcludingacontract,apartyengagedinanyofthefollowingconducts,therebycausinglosstotheotherparty,itshallbeliablefordamages:(i)negotiatinginbadfaithunderthepretextofconcludingacontract;(ii)intentionallyconcealingamaterialfactrelatingtotheconclusionofthecontractorsupplyingfalseinformation;(iii)anyotherconductwhichviolatestheprincipleofgoodfaith.Article43TradeSecrets;LiabilityforDisclosureorImproperUseApartymaynotdiscloseorimproperlyuseanytradesecretwhichitbecameawareofinthecourseofnegotiatingacontract,regardlessofwhetheracontractisformed.Ifthepartydisclosedorimproperlyusedsuchtradesecret,therebycausinglosstotheotherparty,itshallbeliablefordamages.ChapterThree:ValidityofContractsArticle44EffectivenessofContractAlawfullyformedcontractbecomeseffectiveuponitsformation.Whereeffectivenessofacontractissubjecttoanyproceduresuchasapprovalorregistration,etc.asrequiredbyarelevantlaworadministrativeregulation,suchprovisionapplies.Article45ConditionsPrecedent;ConditionsSubsequent;ImproperImpairmentorFacilitationThepartiesmayprescribethateffectivenessofacontractbesubjecttocertainconditions.Acontractsubjecttoaconditionprecedentbecomeseffectiveoncesuchconditionissatisfied.Acontractsubjecttoaconditionsubsequentisextinguishedoncesuchconditionissatisfied.Whereinordertofurtheritsowninterests,apartyimproperlyimpairedthesatisfactionofacondition,theconditionisdeemedtohavebeensatisfied;whereapartyimproperlyfacilitatedthesatisfactionofacondition,theconditionisdeemednottohavebeensatisfied.Article46ContractTermThepartiesmayprescribeatermforacontract.Acontractsubjecttoatimeofcommencementbecomeseffectiveatsuchtime.Acontractsubjecttoatimeofexpirationisextinguishedatsuchtime.Article47ContractbyPersonwithLimitedCapacityAcontractconcludedbyapersonwithlimitedcapacityforcivilactisvaliduponratificationbythelegalagentthereof,providedthatacontractfromwhichsuchpersonaccruesbenefitsonlyortheconclusionofwhichisappropriateforhisage,intelligenceormentalhealthdoesnotrequireratificationbyhislegalagent.Theotherpartymaydemandthatthelegalagentratifythecontractwithinonemonth.Ifthelegalagentfailstomanifesthisintention,heisdeemedtohavedeclinedtoratifythecontract.Priortoratificationofthecontract,theotherpartyingoodfaithisentitledtocancelthecontract.Cancellationshallbeeffectedbynotification.Article48ContractbyUnauthorizedAgentAbsentratificationbytheprincipal,acontractconcludedonhisbehalfbyapersonwholackedagencyauthority,whoactedbeyondhisagencyauthorityorwhoseagencyauthoritywasextinguishedisnotbindingupontheprincipalunlessratifiedbyhim,andthepersonperformingsuchactisliable.Theotherpartymaydemandthattheprincipalratifythecontractwithinonemonth.Wheretheprincipalfailstomanifesthisintention,heisdeemedtohavedeclinedtoratifythecontract.Priortoratificationofthecontract,theotherpartyingoodfaithisentitledtocancelthecontract.Cancellationshallbeeffectedbynotification.Article49ContractbyPersonwithApparentAgencyAuthorityWherethepersonlackingagencyauthority,actingbeyondhisagencyauthority,orwhoseagencyauthoritywasextinguishedconcludedacontractinthenameoftheprincipal,ifitwasreasonablefortheotherpartytobelievethatthepersonperformingtheacthadagencyauthority,suchactofagencyisvalid.Article50ContractExecutedbyLegalRepresentativeWherethelegalrepresentativeortheperson-in-chargeofalegalpersonoranorganizationofanyothernatureenteredintoacontractactingbeyondhisscopeofauthority,unlesstheotherpartykneworshouldhaveknownthathewasactingbeyondhisscopeofauthority,suchactofrepresentationisvalid.Article51UnauthorizedDisposalofPropertythroughContractWhereapieceofpropertybelongingtoanotherpersonwasdisposedofbyapersonwithoutthepowertodoso,suchcontractisneverthelessvalidoncethepersonwiththepowertoitsdisposalhasratifiedthecontract,orifthepersonlackingthepowertodisposeofitwhenthecontractwasconcludedhassubsequentlyacquiredsuchpower.Article52InvalidatingCircumstancesAcontractisinvalidinanyofthefollowingcircumstan