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Issues Relevant to the Launch of Pilot Projects for the Establishment of Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprises Circular
关于开展试点设立外商投资物流企业工作有关问题的通知
A circular on the establishment and operation of foreign-invested logistics enterprises in China iussed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC).
(Issued by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation on June 20 2002 and effective 30 days from the date of issue.)
(对外贸易经济合作部于二零零二年六月二十日发布，自下发之日起三十日后施行。)
To the Commissions (General Office or Bureau) of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation in Jiangsu Province, Zhejiang Province, Guangdong Province, Beijing Municipality, Tianjin Municipality, Chongqing Municipality, Shanghai Municipality and Shenzhen City:
江苏省、浙江省、广东省、北京市、天津市、重庆市、上海市、深圳市外经贸委（厅、局）：
In order to encourage international trade, and the opening up and healthy development of the modern logistics industry to the outside world, pilot projects for the establishment of foreign-invested logistics enterprises in certain Chinese domestic areas are hereby launched. For the purpose of ensuring certain conditions and procedures are followed by the foreign-invested logistics industry during the pilot project period, certain issues related to the launch of these pilot projects for the establishment of foreign-invested logistics enterprises are notified as follows:
为促进国际贸易及现代物流业的对外开放和健康发展，现拟在国内部分地区开展外商投资物流业的试点工作。为明确试点阶段外商投资物流业的条件和程序，现将试点设立外商投资物流企业的有关问题通知如下：
1. A "Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprise" refers to the foreign-invested enterprise established by foreign investors in the form of a Sino-foreign equity joint venture or Sino-foreign cooperative joint venture that can, depending on the actual needs, choose to combine such stages as transport, warehousing, loading, unloading, processing, packaging, distribution, information processing and import and export of goods so as to form a relatively complete supply chain and to provide customers with multi-functional and integrated services (hereafter, Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprise).
一、 外商投资物流企业应为境外投资者以中外合资、中外合作的形式设立的，能够根据实际需要，选择对货物的运输、仓储、装卸、加工、包装、配送、信息处理以及进出口等环节实施有机结合，形成比较完整的供应链，为用户提供多功能一体化服务的外商投资企业（以下简称：“外商投资物流企业”）。
2. Foreign investors are permitted to take the form of a Sino-foreign equity joint venture or a Sino-foreign cooperative joint venture when investing and operating international logistics* and third-party logistics business.
二、 允许境外投资者采用中外合资、中外合作形式投资经营国际流通物流、第三方物流业务。
3. The investors who apply to establish Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprises shall meet the following requirements:
三、 申请设立外商投资物流企业的投资者必须具备如下条件：
(1) Investors that wish to establish Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprises to engage in international logistics businesses shall include at least one party with good performance and operational experience in operating international trade or international freight forwarding or international freight forwarding agency and this investor shall be the largest shareholder among the Chinese investors or foreign investors.
（一） 拟设立从事国际流通物流业务的外商投资物流企业的投资者应至少有一方具有经营国际贸易或国际货物运输或国际货物运输代理的良好业绩和运营经验，符合上述条件的投资者应为中方投资者或外方投资者中的第一大股东。
(2) Investors that wish to establish a Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprise to engage in third-party logistics services shall include at least one party with good performance and operational experience in operating transportation or logistics services and this investor shall be the largest shareholder among the Chinese investors or foreign investors.
（二） 拟设立从事第三方物流业务外商投资物流企业的投资者应至少有一方具有经营交通运输或物流的良好业绩和运营经验，符合上述条件的投资者应为中方投资者或外方投资者中的第一大股东。
4. A Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprise must be established according to the following requirements:
四、 设立的外商投资物流企业必须符合如下要求：
(1) it must have a minimum registered capital of US$5 million;
（一） 注册资本不得低于500万美元；
(2) the foreign investor's share of the Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprise must not exceed 50%;
（二） 从事国际流通物流业务的外商投资物流企业中境外投资者股份比例不得超过50％；
(3) it must have a fixed place of business; and
（三） 有固定的营业场所；
(4) it must have the necessary operating facilities to engage in the logistics business.
（四） 有从事所经营业务所必须的营业设施。
5. Approved Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprises can engage in part or all of the following businesses:
五、 经批准，外商投资物流企业可经营下列部分或全部业务：
(1) International logistics business:
（一） 国际流通物流业务：
- import and export business and related services, including import and export of goods for one's own account or as an agent;
- 进出口业务及相关服务，包括自营或代理货物的进口、出口业务；
- entrustment as an agent of import and export business for export processing enterprises; and
- 接受委托为出口加工企业提供代理进出口业务；
- provision of international freight forwarding services for imported and exported goods by sea, air or land.
- 提供海运、空运、陆运进出口货物的国际货物运输代理业务。
(2) Third-party logistics business:
（二） 第三方物流业务：
- transport, warehousing, loading and unloading, processing, packaging, delivery and relevant information processing and consulting services of ordinary goods by road;
- 道路普通货物的运输、仓储、装卸、加工、包装、配送及相关信息处理服务和有关咨询业务；
- domestic freight forwarding of goods; and
- 国内货运代理业务；
- using computer networks for the management and operation of logistics business.
- 利用计算机网络管理与运作物流业务。
Approval by the relevant departments in accordance with relevant laws and regulations is required should a Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprise wish to engage in road transportation of ordinary goods and make use of computer networks for the management and operation of logistics business.
外商投资物流企业拟从事道路普通货物的运输业务及利用计算机网络管理与运作物流业务的，需经有关部门依据现行法律法规批准。
6. To establish a Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprise the investors shall apply to the department in charge of foreign trade and economic cooperation of the province, autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government or city with independent development plans where the enterprise is proposed to be established and submit the following materials:
六、 设立外商投资物流企业，应向拟设立企业所在地的省、自治区、直辖市、计划单列市对外贸易经济主管部门提出申请，并提交以下材料：
(1) an application form;
（一） 申请书；
(2) a feasibility study report;
（二） 可行性研究报告；
(3) qualification certificates of all the investing parties or the relevant documents as stipulated in Article 4;
（三） 本规定第四条规定的合营各方投资者的资格证明或者有关说明文件；
(4) legal proving documents and proof of creditworthiness of the Chinese and foreign investors;
（四） 中外方投资者的法律证明文件及资信证明；
(5) contract and articles of association;
（五） 合同、章程；
(6) a list of the members of the board of directors or the joint administrative organization and major managers along with their résumés;
（六） 董事会或联合管理机构成员及主要管理人员名单及简历；
(7) a notice of preliminary approval of the name enterprise issued by the administration for industry and commerce;
（七） 工商行政管理部门出具的企业名称预核准通知书；
(8) proof of the enterprise's place of business; and
（八） 企业营业场所证明；
(9) other materials required by the department in charge of foreign trade and economic cooperation.
（九） 对外贸易经济主管部门要求的其他材料。
7. The following procedures shall be followed for the establishment of Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprises:
七、 设立外商投资物流企业应按照下列程序进行：
The department in charge of foreign trade and economic cooperation of the province, autonomous region, municipality directly under the central government or city with independent development plans shall, within 10 days of receipt of the application materials, give out its preliminary opinion in accordance with the provisions hereof and submit the preliminary opinion to the department in charge of foreign trade and economic cooperation of the State Council.
省、自治区、直辖市、计划单列市对外贸易经济主管部门自收到申请材料之日起10个工作日内，依据本规定提出初审意见，并将初审意见报国务院对外贸易经济主管部门批准；
The department in charge of foreign trade and economic cooperation of the State Council shall make a written decision of whether to approve the application within 30 working days of receipt of the application materials. If the application conforms with provisions, an approval certificate for foreign-invested enterprises shall be issued. If the application does not conform with provisions, it shall be sent back and a written notification with reasons explaining the disapproval shall be sent to the applicant.
国务院对外贸易经济主管部门收到申请材料后，在30个工作日内做出是否批准的书面决定，符合规定的，颁发外商投资企业批准证书；不符合规定的，退回申请，书面通知申请人并说明理由。
Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprises engaging in international logistics business shall complete the procedure for obtaining the PRC Approval Certificate for International Freight Forwarding Enterprises at the department in charge of foreign trade and economic cooperation of the State Council within 10 days from the date of issue of the approval certificate for foreign-invested enterprises.
从事国际流通物流业务的外商投资物流企业应在外商投资企业批准证书颁发之日起10日内到国务院对外贸易经济主管部门办理《中华人民共和国国际货物运输代理企业批准证书》。
8. Foreign-invested enterprises shall follow the procedure provided hereof should they wish to expand their business scope to engage in logistics business.
八、 外商投资企业扩大经营范围从事物流业应按照本通知规定的程序办理。
9. The term of operation for a Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprise shall generally not exceed 20 years.
九、 外商投资物流企业的经营期限一般不得超过20年。
With the approval of the original approval authority, a Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprise may extend its term of operation.
经原批准机关批准，外商投资物流企业可以延长经营期限。
10. Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprises may apply to establish branches in other domestic places in accordance with current relevant provisions. The term of operation of a branch shall not exceed that of the Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprise.
十、 外商投资物流企业可按现行有关规定申请在国内其他地方设立分公司。分公司的经营范围不应超出外商投资物流企业的经营范围。
11. Foreign-invested Logistics Enterprises shall strictly abide by relevant State laws and, according to their scope of business, relevant industry administrative laws and regulations related to transportation, international freight forwarding agency and telecommunications. Corresponding punishment shall be imposed in accordance with corresponding laws and regulations on acts in violation of laws and regulations.
十一、 外商投资物流企业应严格遵守国家外商投资方面的有关法律、法规以及按照其经营范围遵守交通运输、国际货物运输代理及电信方面的有关行业管理的法律法规，对其违法、违规行为将依照相应法律、法规予以相应处罚。
12. The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation shall specify the trial areas. Currently, pilot projects are carried out in the four municipalities directly under the central government: Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and Chongqing; three provinces: Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Guangdong; and the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone.
十二、 试点地区由外经贸部规定。目前暂在北京、天津、上海和重庆四个直辖市；浙江、江苏、广东三省及深圳经济特区进行试点。
13. Investors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan that wish to establish pilot logistics enterprises in the mainland shall handle it with reference to the spirit of this Circular.
十三、 香港、澳门、台湾地区的投资者在大陆投资试点设立物流企业，参照本通知的精神办理。
14. This Circular shall come into effect 30 days from the date of issue.
十四、 本通知自下发之日起三十日后施行。
* Translator's Note: The term wuliu and liutong wuliu are both translated as "logistics".
Endnote
1. Translation provided by Ince & Co.
clp reference:2300/02.06.20promulgated:2002-06-20effective:2002-07-20This premium content is reserved for
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