China Strives to Meet WTO Challenges

China Completes Rectification of WTO-related Laws

China has completed the rectification of six laws, making them all conforming to the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This was announced recently by Zhang Chunsheng, deputy director of the Commission of Legislative Affairs of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC).

The six laws are: the Law on Chinese-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures, the Trademark Law and the Copy Right Law that were revised this year and the Law on Chinese-Foreign Contractual Joint Ventures, the Law on Foreign-Capital Enterprises and the Patent Law that were rectified last year.

The six laws concern the use of foreign capital and the protection of intellectual property.

The rectification of the Law on Chinese-Foreign Equity Joint Ventures, the Law on Chinese-Foreign Contractual Joint Ventures and the Law on Foreign-Capital Enterprises won widespread welcome for they massively eliminate the restrictions on foreign-invested enterprises.

Zhang said amending of such laws is in the spirit of the WTO and represents the principles of "national treatment" and "most-favored-nation clauses". "In the meantime, this has adopted to the needs of the social-economic development of China itself."

Before rectification, the three laws regulate that foreign-invested enterprises should buy raw materials and parts in the Chinese market, their business plans should be reported to the governmental departments and they should maintain the balance of foreign currency.

The revised Trademark Law has expanded the exclusive rights of trademark to individual and improved relevant compensation measures.

The revised Copy Right Law, however, has ensured the equal rights of Chinese citizens with foreigners in terms of copyright protection.

Although China has made arduous efforts in amending relevant laws, there is still long way to go in making the administrative laws and local regulations in line with the WTO rules, Zhang said.

WTO Entry to Challenge China's Administration System

China's entry into the WTO will lead to great changes in its administration system, said Yang Jingyu, director of the Legal Affairs Office under the State Council, Saturday. Entering the World Trade Organization (WTO) poses a major challenge to the government's capability in administrative control, as the new rules differ greatly from the present ones.

The government should concentrate more on economic regulation, market supervision and public service, while reducing administrative examination and approval in the economic field, Yang said at a lecture on the legal system held during the 25th session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

According to him, China has been working to revise administrative rules and regulations so that they conform to WTO rules and China's commitments to the international community on its WTO entry.

After the accession, 25 of the 30 government administrative regulations which need drafting or amending have been completed while 12 others have been abolished.

The implementation of 36 State Council documents on administration will be stopped very soon, he disclosed.

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