China Law Key Words · 01 Practice
Company Formation
Practical China law orientation, guides and related counsel
230 articles · Latest update 13 Sep 2026
Reading on this topic
Guides, answers and analysis related to this topic.
230 articles
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06 Sep 2026
Representative Offices in China
A representative office can give a foreign enterprise a registered liaison presence in China, but it is not a Chinese company or a legal person. Its permitted role is narrow: the…
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06 Sep 2026
Joint Ventures in China
A China joint venture is generally a Chinese company owned by foreign and Chinese investors. The former equity and cooperative joint-venture statutes no longer provide the main or…
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06 Sep 2026
Capital Increase in China
Increasing registered/subscribed capital is a shareholder resolution plus SAMR change filing — and a new contribution clock. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.Direct answerA capital increase is…
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06 Sep 2026
Capital Reduction in China
Reducing capital requires a resolution, creditor notice and a SAMR filing. It is not a quiet AOA edit. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.Direct answerReduction is a creditor-facing process — yo…
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06 Sep 2026
Changing a Legal Representative in China
Replacing the legal representative needs an internal appointment plus a SAMR change filing. A resignation letter alone does not take them off the licence. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.Dire…
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06 Sep 2026
Registered Capital in China
Registered capital is the total amount subscribed by the shareholders and registered for a Chinese company. It is not necessarily the same as cash already paid into the company. U…
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06 Sep 2026
Subscribed Capital in China
Subscribed capital is what shareholders promised to contribute, on a schedule the Company Law now polices. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.Direct answerSubscribed means promised — the five-ye…
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06 Sep 2026
Paid-in Capital in China
Paid-in capital is what shareholders have actually contributed and the company can prove — bank receipts, not the licence headline. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.Direct answerPaid-in is evi…
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06 Sep 2026
Business Scope for Companies in China
A company’s business scope in China is stated in its articles of association, registered with the market regulator and shown on its business licence. It should accurately cover th…
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06 Sep 2026
Articles of Association in China
The AOA is the company’s constitution filed at SAMR: capital, organs, chops of authority. Model articles are a starting point, not a control map. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.Direct answer…
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06 Sep 2026
Directors of Chinese Companies
Directors owe Company Law duties of loyalty and care. The legal representative is often (not always) drawn from them. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.Direct answerA director is a statutory of…
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06 Sep 2026
Managers of Chinese Companies
The manager (总经理) runs day-to-day affairs under the board or sole director. The title is not automatically legal representative. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.Direct answerManager is an off…
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06 Sep 2026
Shareholder Resolutions in China
Shareholders act by written or meeting resolutions at Company Law majorities. SAMR changes need the filed form, not a WhatsApp vote. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.Direct answerA resolution…
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06 Sep 2026
Unified Social Credit Code
The 18-digit Unified Social Credit Code is the company’s national ID on the licence — it replaced separate org-code / tax / licence numbers for most uses. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.Dire…
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06 Sep 2026
China Business Licence
The business licence is the SAMR certificate of legal existence: name, code, LR, capital, scope, address. Original plus chops are how you prove the company. Reviewed 6 Sep 2026.Di…
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