Electronic Research Guide

Electronic research on the Internet has grown dramatically worldwide. For China-related research, Web sites inside and outside of China provide a variety of information concerning China's laws and regulations, business opportunities, culture, travel, and other matters of interest to foreign investors. Some sites improve over time, some are not maintained, and others contain blatantly incorrect information. Readers that conduct research on the Internet must do so with caution, given that the reliability of information may vary depending upon the objectives and intentions of the Web site sponsor.

  1. China-Related and General News Media Sites

    The following Web sites are sponsored by China-based media companies:

    • Business Beijing (http://www.cbw.com): Business Beijing is a magazine published monthly by the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government, the Beijing Municipal Foreign Economic and Trade Commission, and the Beijing Municipal Planning Commission. The online version of the magazine reprints articles concerning business and legal issues.
    • Beijing Guide (http://www.beijing-guide.com): Beijing Guide is a site co-sponsored by the Beijing Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Commission and the Nengyuan Corporation of Beijing. The site includes information concerning the approval procedures for joint ventures and wholly foreign-owned enterprises.
    • China Daily (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn): Site sponsored by China Daily, China's official English newspaper. Fee-base for access to some information.
    • People's Daily (http://www.people.com.cn or http://english.peopledaily.com.cn for English readers): Fee-based online version in Chinese and English of the government-run newspaper.
    • Shanghai Daily (http://www.shanghaidaily.com): Fee-based online version of newspaper based in Shanghai that includes regional information.

    Other general media sites have articles and stories concerning China business and legal issues, including, but not limited to:

  2. Sites Sponsored by Private Companies and Enterprises
  3. Government Sponsored (P. R. China)
    1. Sites Sponsored by Chinese Governmental Organizations
      • China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) (http://www.ccpit.org): Information concerning trade delegations, trade shows and exhibitions, and procedures for establishing representative offices and sample application forms.
      • China Law Database (http://www.chinalaw.net): Fee-based site of the State Information Center sponsored by the State Development and Planning Commission, providing all the archives of Chinese laws and regulations issued by the Chinese ministries and each local people's government at municipal and city level.
      • Chinese Embassy, Washington D.C. (http://www.china-embassy.org): Site sponsored by the PRC government that contains information regarding China visas and passports, travel, politics and diplomacy, and general information about China. See also the Web site of the PRC Consulate in Los Angeles (http://www.china.consulatela.org), the PRC Consulate in New York (http://www.nyconsulate.prchina.org), or the PRC Embassy in the United Kingdom (http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk).
      • China National Technical Import & Export Corporation (CNTIC) (http://www.cntic.com.cn): This Web site is sponsored CNTIC, which is one of China's largest foreign trading companies specializing in technology trade. The site allows users to search and retrieve information including product name, specifications, usage, company contacts, catalogue information, product photos, and other product data.
      • Shanghai Environmental Online (http://www.envir.online.sh.cn): Site sponsored by the Shanghai Environment Education Center, which outlines the local environmental protection regulations and provides information on environmental issues.
      • Wuhan HongDun Industry & Commerce Consultancy Network (http://en.whhd.gov.cn/intro/aboutweb.htm): English language site sponsored by Wuhan Municipal Administration of Industry and Commerce, which includes economic and commercial information, preferential policies for foreign investment, and translations of the local regulations for development zones.
      • XinJiang Environmental Protection Bureau (http://www.xjepb.gov.cn): Web site of the XinJiang Environmental Protection Bureau, which has translations of the environmental laws and regulations of China.
      • Chinese Society of Human Rights Studies (http://www.humanrights-china.org): The Web site contains documents concerning human rights in China including the Chinese government's white paper on human rights.
    2. Sites Sponsored by Chinese Government agencies of the State Council
      1. Sites of China Judicial Organs
        • The Supreme People's Court (http://www.court.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of The Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China.
        • The Supreme People's Procuratorate (http://www.spp.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of The Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China.
      2. Sites Sponsored by Ministries and Commissions under Direct Control of the State Council
        • Ministry of Agriculture (http://www.agri.gov.cn): Web site sponsored by the MOA, in Chinese only.
        • Ministry of Civil Affairs (http://www.mca.gov.cn): Web site of the MCA, in Chinese only.
        • Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) (http://www.mofcom.gov.cn): Comprehensive site of MOFCOM that includes English translations of customs, foreign investment, environmental protection, and taxation laws. The site also provides information concerning trade shows, the top Chinese enterprises, and trade statistics. MOFCOM was established from the recent merger of the former Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (known as MOFTEC) and the State Economic and Trade Commission (known as SETC).
        • Ministry of Communications (http://www.moc.gov.cn): Web site of MOC, in Chinese only.
        • Ministry of Construction (http://www.cin.gov.cn): Web site of the Ministy of Construction, in Chinese only.
        • Ministry of Culture (http://www.ccnt.gov.cn): English and (simplified and traditional) Chinese Web site of CCNT, with special edition of information for overseas Chinese.
        • Ministry of Education (http://www.moe.edu.cn): Chinese Web site of MOE.
        • Ministry of Foreign Affairs (http://www.fmprc.gov.cn): Web site of the MOFA in English, simplified and traditional Chinese, French, and three other languages.
        • Ministry of Finance (http://www.mof.gov.cn): English and Chinese Web site of MOF with information concerning policies and regulations.
        • Ministry of Health (http://www.moh.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of MOH.
        • Ministry of Information Industry (http://www.mii.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of MII.
        • Ministry of Justice (http://www.legalinfo.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of MOJ.
        • Ministry of Labour and Social Security (http://www.molss.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of MOLSS.
        • Ministry of Land and Resources (http://www.mlr.gov.cn): English and Chinese Web site of MLR.
        • Ministry of Personnel (http://www.mop.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of MOP.
        • Ministry of Public Security (http://www.mps.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of MPS.
        • Ministry of Railway (http://www.chinamor.cn.net): Chinese Web site of MOR.
        • Ministry of Science and Technology (http://www.most.gov.cn): English and Chinese Web site of MOST.
        • Ministry of Water Resources (http://www.mwr.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of MWR.
        • National Audit Office (http://www.audit.gov.cn): English and Chinese Web site of the National Audit Office.
        • National Development and Reform Commission (http://www.sdpc.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of NDRC (formerly known as the State Development and Planning Commission, i.e. "SDPC").
        • National Population and Family Planning Commission (http://www.sfpc .gov.cn): English and Chinese Web site of SFPC.
        • People's Bank of China (http://www.pbc.gov.cn): English and Chinese Web site of PBOC.
        • State Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (http://www.costind.gov.cn): Web site of COSTIND, in Chinese only.
        • State Ethnic Affairs Commission (http://www.seac.gov.cn): Web site of SEAC, accession by public restricted.
        • [Note: No Web site is available to the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Supervision, and the Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China.]
      3. Special Organ under the Direct Control of the State Council
        • State Assets Regulatory and Management Commission of State Council (http://www.sasac.gov.cn): English and Chinese Web site of SASAC.
      4. Sites Sponsored by Bureaus and Administrations of the State Council
        • Counselor's Office of the State Council (http://www.counsellor.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of the Counselor's Office of the State Council, which mainly consists of democratic members and patriotic nonpartisans and is responsible for the united front work.
        • General Administation of Civil Aviation of China (http://www.caac.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of CAAC.
        • General Administration of Customs (http://www.customs.gov.cn): Chinese Web site sponsored by GAC.
        • General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (http://www.aqsiq.gov.cn): Chinese Web site sponsored by GAQSIQ.
        • Government Offices Administration of State Council (http://www.ggj.gov .cn): Chinese Web site of the Government Offices Administration of State Council.
        • National Bureau of Statistics (http://www.stats.gov.cn): Web site of NBS in English and simplified and traditional Chinese.
        • National Copyright Administration (http://www.ncac.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of NCAC providing information mainly regarding administration over copyrights in China.
        • National Tourism Admnistration (http://www.cnta.gov.cn): Web site sponsored by NTA providing information in English, Chinese, and Japanese.
        • State Administration of Industry and Commerce (http://www.saic.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SAIC providing information regarding administration, laws, and regulations on fair trade, consumer rights protection, market regulation, domestic and foreign enterprises registration, advertisement supervision, individual and private company supervision, and trademark registration, prosecution, and adjudication.
        • State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (http://www.sarft.gov .cn): Chinese Web site of SARFT.
        • State Administration of Religious Affairs (http://www.sara.gov.cn): Web site of SARA, public access restricted.
        • State Administration of Safe Production Supervision (http://www.chinasafety.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SASPS, it is also known as State Administration of Coal Mining Safety (SACMS) with regard to supervision and administration of coal mining work safety.
        • State Food and Drug Administration (http://www.sda.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SFDA.
        • State Environment Protection Administration (http://www.zhb.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SEPA.
        • State Forestry Bureau (http://www.forestry.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SFB.
        • State General Administration of Sports (http://www.sport.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SGAS with links to over 40 other national and local sites relating to sports.
        • State Intellectual Property Office (http://www.sipo.gov.cn): formerly known as China Patent Office, the Web site is sponsored by SIPO, which is responsible for evaluating patent applications. The site includes information regarding Chinese laws and regulations on patent.
        • State Administration of Taxation (http://www.chinatax.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of the SAT.
    3. Sites Sponsored by Offices of State Council
      • Legislative Affairs Office (http://www.chinalaw.gov.cn): Web site sponsored by the State Council Legislative Affairs Office providing information regarding legislation in China in English and simplified and traditional Chinese.
      • Taiwan Affairs Office (http://www.gwytb.gov.cn): Simplified and traditional Chinese Web site of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

      [Note: The State Council also has some other offices known as the Foreign Affairs Office, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office, Economic Restructuring Office, Information Office, and Research Office; they either do not have any Web sites or restrict public access to their sites.]

    4. Sites Sponsored by Institutions under Direct Control of State Council

      [Note: The National Council of Social Security Fund is also a governmental organ under the direct control of the State Council; it hasn't established its own Web site yet.]

    5. Sites Sponsored by Bureaus Supervised by Commissions and Ministries
      • State Administration of Cultural Heritage (http://www.sach.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SACH, which is supervised by the Ministry of Culture.
      • State Administration of Foreign Exchange (http://www.safe.gov.cn): English and Chinese Web site of SAFE, which is supervised by the People's Bank of China.
      • State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (http://www.safea.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SAFEA, which is supervised by the Ministry of Personnel.
      • State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (http://www.satcm .gov.cn): English and Chinese Web site of SATCM, which is supervised by the Ministry of Health.
      • State Archives Administration (http://www.saac.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SAAC.
      • State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (http://www.sbsm.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SBSM, which is supervised by the Ministry of Land and Resources.
      • State Grain Administration (http://www.chinagrain.gov.cn): English and Chinese Web site of SGA, which is supervised by the State Development and Reform Commission.
      • State Oceanic Administration (http://www.soa.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SOA, which is supervised by the Ministry of Land and Resources.
      • State Post Bureau (http://www.chinapost.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of SPB, which is supervised by the Ministry of Information Industry.
      • State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (http://www.tobacco.gov.cn): Chinese Web site of STMA, which is supervised by the Ministry of Commerce.
      • [Note: The State Bureau for Letters and Calls and the National Administration for the Protection of State Secrets are also bureaus supervised by commissions and ministries; however, no Web site was found for direct online information for either of the two.]
  4. Government Sponsored (United States)
    • U.S. Embassy, Beijing (http://www.usembassy-china.org.cn): Contains U.S. publications prepared by Embassy staff concerning political, commercial, and consular affairs. The site also includes useful links to other China-related sites.
    • United States Trade Representative (http://www.ustr.gov): Information concerning trade relations between the U.S. and China, trade barrier information, including China's customs rules, export licensing, and tariff policies, and the U.S. position concerning China's entry to the WTO.
    • Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (http://www .ita.doc.gov): ITA site consists of industry-specific information for China.
  5. Other China-Related Sites
    1. China Business and Economy Sites
    2. China News and Media
    3. Non-Ministerial National Web Sites
    4. Local Governmental Sites
      • Shanghai (http://www.shanghai.gov.cn).
      • Shanghai Foreign Investment Service Center (http://www.sfisc.com).
      • Great Britain-China Center (http://www.gbcc.org.uk): Site is sponsored by the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office and includes general business information concerning China.
      • University of Maryland School of Law, Chinalaw Web (http://www.qis .net/chinalaw): University-sponsored site that includes translations of certain China laws and regulations, summaries concerning legal issues, and other helpful information.
  6. Fee-Based Research Services
    • China Infobank (http://www.chinainfobank.com): Fee-based online version providing analysis, articles, reports regarding China's economic information.
    • China Law and Practice (http://www.chinalawandpractice.com): Fee-based online version in both Chinese and English published by Asia Law & Practice, providing analysis, articles, and digests regarding China's legislation, and full-text translation of Chinese laws and regulations.
    • Economist Intelligence Unit (http://www.eiu.com): Fee-based site that includes legal and business information for China.
    • Isinolaw (http://www.isinolaw.com): Fee-based online version in both Chinese and English providing analysis, articles, and summaries regarding China's legislation, and full-text translation of Chinese laws and regulations.
    • Lexis-Nexis (http://www.lexis.com): Online legal research service with extensive international law and international trade law libraries. Select laws and regulations are available at INTLAW Library, CHINA File.
  7. Trade Associations
    • American Chamber of Commerce in China (http://www.amcham-china.org.cn) and Hong Kong (http://www.amcham.org.hk): Sites include information about business and legal issues affecting Hong Kong and China.
    • Hong Kong Trade Development Council (http://www.tdctrade.com): Site sponsored by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council that includes China-related business information.
    • U.S.-China Business Council (http://www.uschina.org): Site sponsored by the U.S.-China Business Council that contains information regarding general business in China. Some materials are accessible for members only.
  8. International Organizations
    • Asian Development Bank (http://www.adb.org): Information concerning the activities of the Asian Development Bank with some documents specifically relating to China.
    • International Monetary Fund (http://www.imf.org): The site contains information concerning the work of the IMF. Some reports are available concerning the economic stability and growth of China and Hong Kong.
    • World Bank (http://www.worldbank.org): Information concerning World Bank activities, including information involving China's World Bank Projects, environmental projects and cooperation, and economic information concerning China.
    • World Trade Organization (http://www.wto.org): Contains publications and information concerning the activities of the WTO. Some China-related information can be found on the site.

Copyright © 2010 James M. Zimmerman. All Rights Reserved. Legal Notices A DTL Networx Design