WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONS/C/N/224
24 December 2002
(02-7103)
Council for Trade in Services Original:  English
NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE III:3 OF THE
GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TRADE IN SERVICES
The following notification has been received from the delegation of the People's Republic of
China.
____________
1. Member notifying:
The People's Republic of China
2. Notification under:
Article III, paragraph 3 of the General Agreement on Trade in Services
3. Date of entry into force/duration:
2001/12/12
4. Agency responsible for implementati on and enforcement of the measure:
China Insurance Regulatory Commission
5. Complete description of the measure* indicating the modes of supply covered, the effect
on trade in services (e.g., restrictions/liberalization measures) and the impact of the
measure on commitments in the Member's schedule and Article II (MFN) exemption
list, if relevant:
Regulations on Administration of Foreign-Funded Insurance Companies
Full text English translation of the regulations is attached1.  The English translation is for
reference only and the Chinese version shall be authentic.
6. Members specifically affected, if any:
All Members
7. The texts are available from:
- Enquiry point /g254
- WTO Secretariat /g254
- Other sources (address, fax
and telephone of other body)  /g168
                                                     
* Including international agreements, recognition measures or other types.
1 In English onlyS/C/N/224
Page 2
Regulations of the People ’s Republic of China on Administration of
Foreign-Funded Insurance Companies
(Adopted at the 49th Executive Meeting of the State Council on December 5,2001, promulgated by
the Decree No. 336 of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China on December 12, 2001,
and effective as of February 1, 2002).
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 These Regulations are formulated to meet the need of opening up to the outside world
and developing economy, to strengthen and improve the supervision and administration of foreign-
funded insurance companies, and to promote the healthy development of the insurance industry.
Article 2 The term of "foreign -funded insurance companies", as used in these Regulations,
refers to the following insurance companies that ar e approved to be established and to operate within
the territory of China in accordance with relevant laws and administrative regulations of the
People’s Republic of China:
(1) insurance companies which are funded and operated within the territory of China by
foreign insurance companies jointly w ith Chinese companies or enterprises
(hereinafter referred to as joint venture insurance companies);
(2) insurance companies which are solely funded and operated within the territory of
China by foreign insurance companies (hereinafter referred to as solely foreign-
funded insurance companies); and
(3) branches of foreign insurance companies within the territory of China (hereinafter
referred to as branches of foreign insurance companies).
Article 3 Foreign-funded insurance companies shall abide by the laws and regulations of China
and shall not infringe upon the social and public interests of China.
The legitimate business activities and lawful rights and interests of foreign-funded insurance
companies are protected by the laws of China.
Article 4 The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (hereinafter referred to as CIRC) is
responsible for the supervision and administration of foreign-funded insurance companies. The
agencies of CIRC exercise routine supervision and administration on foreign  funded insurance
companies within their respective jurisdictions according to the powers delegated by CIRC.
Chapter II Establishment and Registration
Article 5 The establishment of a foreign-funded insurance company shall be approved by
CIRC.
Regions where foreign-funded insurance companies may be established shall be determined by CIRC
in accordance with relevant provisions.
Article 6 For foreign-funded insurance companies to engage in insurance of the person or
property insurance business, their establishment form and foreign investment proportion shall be
determined by CIRC in accordance with relevant provisions.
Article 7 The minimum registered capital requirement of a joint venture insurance company or
a solely foreign-funded insurance company is RMB 200,000,000 yuan or its equivalent of a freely
convertible currency; the minimum registered capital must be fully paid up in currency. The
contribution of foreign insurance companies shall be made in freely convertible currencies.S/C/N/224
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A branch of a foreign insurance company shall be allocated as its operating fund by its headquarter
company a free sum of freely convertible currencies equivalent to not less than RMB 200,000,000
yuan. CIRC may, according to the business scope and operation scale of a foreign funded insurance
company, increase the minimum requirement of the registered capital or operating fund provided for
in the preceding two paragraphs.
Article 8 A foreign insurance company applying to establish a foreign-funded insurance
company shall meet the following requirements:
(1) It has engaged in insurance business for not less than 30 years;
(2) It has maintained a representative office w ithin the territory of China for not less than
2 years;
(3) It possessed total assets of not less than US$ 5,000,000,000 at the end of the year
prior to the submission of its establishment application;
(4) The country or region where it is domiciled has a sound system of insurance
supervision and administration, and it is under the effective supervision and
administration by the relevant competent authorities of the country or region;
(5) It satisfies the solvency standards of the country or region where it is domiciled;(6) The relevant competent authorities of the country or region where it is domiciled
consents to its application; and
(7) It meets other prudent requirements prescribed by CIRC.
Article 9 To establish a foreign-funded insurance company, the applicant shall submit an
application to CRIC in writing, together with the following materials:
(1) an application signed by the legal representative of the applicant, or, where a joint
venture insurance company is applied for, jointly signed by the respective legal
representatives of each joint party;
(2) a duplicate of the foreign applicant’s business license, a certification proving that the
foreign applicant satisfies the solvency sta ndards, and the opinion on the application
issued by the relevant competent authorities of the country or region where the
applicant is domiciled;
(3) the foreign applicant’s articles of association and its annual reports for the last three
years prior to submission of the application;
(4) in the case of applying for establishing a joint venture insurance company, relevant
materials of the Chinese applicant (s);
(5) the feasibility study report and the preparatory plan of the proposed company;
(6) the names, biographical information and qualification certifications of the personnel
responsible for the preparatory work of the proposed company; and
(7) other materials to be submitted as provided by CIRC.
Article 10 CIRC shall conduct a preliminary examination on the application for establishing a
foreign-funded insurance company and decide to accept or reject it within 6 months from the date of
receipt of the complete application documents. If the application is accepted, CIRC shall issue an
official application form to the applicant; if the application is reject ed, CIRC shall inform the
applicant in writing and give reasons for the rejection.
Article 11 Applicants shall complete the preparatory work within 1 year from the date of receipt
of the official application form. An extension of 3 months may be granted upon the approval of CIRC
where the preparatory work is not completed within the specified time limit for proper reasons. If the
preparatory work is not completed within the extended period, the acceptance decision made by CIRC
automatically ceases to be effective. Upon completion of the preparatory work, the applicant shall
submit to CIRC the completed application form togeth er with the following materials for examination
and approval:
(1) a report on the preparatory work;
(2) the articles of association of the proposed company;S/C/N/224
Page 4
(3) a list of the investors of the proposed company and the amount of their respective
contributions;
(4) a capital verification certificate issued by a statutory capital verification institution;
(5) letters of attorney issued to the principal responsible persons of the proposed 
company;
(6) the names, biographical information and qualification certifications of the senior
management personnel of the proposed company;
(7) the business plan and reinsurance program of the proposed company for the first
3 years to come;
(8) insurance clauses, premium rates and the calculation statements of the liability
reserves for the insurance products to be distributed within the territory of China;
(9) information on the business premises and other facilities related to the business
operation of the proposed company;
(10) in the case of  applying for establishing a branch of a foreign insurance company, a
bond issued by the headquarter company guaranteeing the taxes and debts obligation
of the proposed branch;
(11) in the case of applying for establishing a joint venture insurance company, the joint
venture agreement; and
(12) other materials to be submitted as provided by CIRC.
Article 12 CIRC shall, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the complete official
application documents, decide to approve or disapprove the application. If the application is approved,CIRC shall issue a permit to carry on insurance business; if the application is disapproved, CIRC shall
inform the applicant in writing and give the reasons for the disapproval.
Where the establishment of a foreign-funded insurance company is approved, the applicant shall, on
strength of the permit to carry on insurance business, register with the administrative department forindustry and commerce and obtain a business license.
Article 13 Upon the establishment of a foreign-funded insurance company, 20% of the total
amount of its registered capital or operating fund shall be deposited with the bank(s) designated by
CIRC as a guarantee fund. This guarantee fund shall not be used except for paying off debts when the
foreign-funded insurance company is liquidated.
Article 14 Branching of a foreign-funded insurance comp any within the territory of China shall
be examined and approved by CIRC in accordance with relevant provisions.
Chapter III Business Scope
Article 15 Foreign-funded insurance companies may, within the business scope approved by
CIRC and in accordance with law, conduct all or part of the following classes of insurance business:
(1) property insurance, including property loss or damage insurance, liability insurance,
credit insurance etc., or
(2) insurance of the person, including life assurance, health insurance, accidental injury
insurance etc.
Foreign-funded insurance companies may, upon the approval of CIRC in accordance with relevant
provisions, engage in large-scale commercial risks insurance and master policy insurance within the
scope approved.
Article 16 A foreign-funded insurance company shall not engage in both property insurance and
insurance of the person concurrently.
Article 17 A foreign-funded insurance company may conduct the following reinsurance business
with respect to the insurance business provided for in Article 15 of these Regulations:S/C/N/224
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(1) outward reinsurance; and
(2) inward reinsurance.
Article 18 The specific business scope, geographic restriction of business and types of clients of
a foreign-funded insurance company shall be approved by CIRC in accordance with relevantprovisions. A foreign-funded insurance company may only conduct its business within the scope of
approval.
Chapter IV Supervision and Administration
Article 19 CIRC has the right to inspect the business performance, financial status and the
utilization of funds of a foreign-funded insurance company, to require a foreign -funded insurance
company to furnish relevant documents, materials and written report(s) within a specified time limit,
and to impose penalties or make other dispositions according to law on any violation of laws or rules.
Foreign-funded insurance companies shall accept the supervision and inspection conducted by CIRC
according to law, and truthfully provide relevant documents, materials and written report(s). Refusal,
hindrance or concealment is prohibited.
Article 20 Foreign-funded insurance companies shall not engage in any of the following
transactions with their associated enterprises unless is otherwise approved by CIRC:
(1) outward or inward reinsurance; or(2) purchase or sale of assets, or other transactions.
The term of "associated enterprises", as used in the preceding paragraph, refers to any enterprise that
has one of the following associations with the foreign-funded insurance company:
(1) relationships of control in shareholding or capital contribution;(2) being controlled by a third party togeth er with the foreign-funded insurance company
in shareholding or capital contribution; or
(3) other association in interests.
Article 21 A branch of a foreign insurance company shall, within 3 months after the end of each
fiscal year, submit to CIRC the financial statements of both the branch and the headquarter company
of the previous year and make them public.
Article 22 A branch of a foreign insurance company shall, where the headquarter company of
which falls under one of the following circumstances, submit to CIRC a written report on relevantinformation within 10 days from the date of occurrence of such circumstance(s):
(1) change of its name, the principal responsible persons or the place of registration;
(2) change in the amount of its capital;
(3) change of shareholder(s) holding 10% or more of its total capital or total shares;
(4) adjustment of its business scope;(5) penalized by the relevant competent authorities of the country or region where it is
domiciled;
(6) significant losses incurred;
(7) separation, merger, dissolution, mandatory closure or being declared bankrupt; or
(8) other circumstances provided for by CIRC.
Article 23 CIRC shall order a branch of a foreign insurance company to cease to conduct new
business where its headquarter company is dissolved, closed according to law, or declared bankrupt.
Article 24 A foreign-funded insurance company, when engaging in insurance in foreign
currencies, shall abide by the relevant provisions of the State on administration of foreign exchange.S/C/N/224
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Any foreign-funded insurance company conducting insurance business within the territory of China,
other than those otherwise approved by the foreign exchange administration organ of the State, shall
use RMB in price quotations and in settlements.
Article 25 All documents, materials and written reports submitted to CIRC in accordance with
these Regulations shall be written in the Chinese language.
Chapter V Termination and Liquidation
Article 26 A foreign-funded insurance company may, upon the approval of CIRC, be dissolved
in the event of division, merger or the occurrence of other dissolution circumstances set forth in the
articles of association of the company. When a foreign-funded insurance company is dissolved, a
liquidation task force shall be established according to law to conduct the liquidation. A foreign-
funded insurance company engaging in life assurance shall not be dissolved, except in the event of
separation or merger.
Article 27 Here the permit to carry on insurance business of a foreign-funded insurance
company is revoked by CIRC due to its violation of laws or administrative regulations, the company
shall be closed according to law. CIRC shall timely establish a liquidation task force to conduct the
liquidation.
Article 28 Where a foreign-funded insurance company is liquidated due to dissolution or
closure, it shall, within 60 days from the date of establishment of the liquidation task force, make
public announcements in the newspaper for at least three times. The content of such public
announcement shall be approved by CIRC.
Article 29 Where a foreign-funded insurance company is unable to pay off its debts when due, it
may, upon the approval of CIRC, be declared bankrupt by a people’s court. The people’s court shall
organize relevant departments such  as CIRC and relevant persons to establish a liquidation task force
to conduct the liquidation.
Article 30 Where a foreign-funded insurance company is dissolved, closed according to law, or
declared bankrupt, it shall not transfer its assets outside the territory of China before paying off all the
debts.
Chapter VI Legal Liability
Article 31 Those who, in violation of these Regulations, establish a foreign-funded insurance
company or illegally engage in insurance activities shall be banned by CIRC and be investigated for
criminal liability in accordance with the provisions  of the Criminal Law on the crime of illegally
establishing financial institutions, the crime of illegal operation or other crimes. Where such violation
is not serious enough for criminal punishment, CIRC shall confiscate the illegal income and
concurrently impose a fine of not less than one time nor more than five times the illegal income, or a
fine of not less than 200,000 yuan nor more than 1,000,000 yuan if there is no illegal income or the
illegal income is less than 200,000 yuan.
Article 32 Where a foreign-funded insurance company, in violation of these Regulations,
engages in insurance activities exceeding the approved business scope, geographic restriction or types
of clients, it shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with the provisions of the
Criminal Law on the crime of illegal operation or other crimes. Where such violation is not serious
enough for criminal punishment, CIRC shall order the foreign-funded insurance company to make
corrections and to refund the premiums collected, confiscate the illegal income, and concurrently
impose a fine of not less than one time nor more than five times the illegal income, or a fine of not
less than 100,000 yuan nor more than 500,000 yuan if there is no illegal income or the illegal income
is less than 100,000 yuan. Where the foreign -funded insurance company fails to make correct ionsS/C/N/224
Page 7
within a specified time limit or causes serious consequences, CIRC shall order the foreign-funded
insurance company to suspend its business operati on with in a specified time limit, or revoke its
permit to carry on insurance business.
Article 33 Where a foreign-funded insurance company, in violation of these Regulations,
conducts one of the following activities, CIRC sha ll order it to make corrections in a specified time
limit and impose a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan nor more than 300,000 yuan. If the circumstances
are serious, CIRC may order the foreign-funded insurance company to cease accepting new business,
or revoke its permit to carry on insurance business:
(1) failing to set up a guarantee fund as in accordance with provisions or using the
guarantee fund in violation of the provisions;
(2) engaging in transactions with its associated enterprises in violation of the provisions;
or
(3) failing to replenish the registered capital or operating fund as in accordance with
provisions.
Article 34 Where a foreign-funded insurance company, in violation of these Regulations,
conducts one of the following activities, CIRC sha ll order it to make corrections within a specified
time limit. If the foreign-funded insurance company fails to make corrections within the specified
time limit, it shall be fined not less than 10,000 yuan nor more than 100,000:
(1) failing to submit relevant documents, materials or written reports as in accordance
with provisions; or
(2) failing to make public announcements as in accordance with provisions.
Article 35 Where a foreign-funded insurance company, in violation of these Regulations,
conduct one of the following activities, CIRC shall impose a fine of not less than100,000 yuan nor
more than 500,000 yuan:
(1) submitting falsified documents, materials or written reports; or
(2) refusing or hindering supervision and inspection conducted according to law.
Article 36 Where a foreign-funded insurance company, in violation of these Regulations,
transfers its assets out of the territory of China, CIRC shall order it to transfer back the assets andimpose a fine of not less than 20% nor more than the full amount of the assets so transferred.
Article 37 Where a foreign-funded insurance company violates relevant Chinese laws,
administrative regulations or these Regulations, CIRC may disqualify the senior managerial personnel
of the company to serve in China for a specified period of time up to their whole life.
Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions
Article 38 Where there are no provisions in these Regulations on the matters concerning the
supervision and administration of foreign-funded insurance companies, the Insurance Law of the
People’s Republic of China, as well as other relevant laws, administrative regulations and other
relevant provisions of the State apply.
Article 39 These Regulations are mutatis mutandis applicable to the insurance companies
established and operated within the mainland by insurance companies of Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan region.
Article 40 These Regulations shall be effective as of February 1, 2002.
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