Chongqing

• Mayor: Bao Xuding
• Government office address: Renmin Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing
• Telephone: 023-63854444
• Website: http://www.cq.gov.cn

On the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in southwest China, bordering provinces of Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan and Shaanxi, Chongqing has a total area of 82,400 square km.

Elevation
 
Natural resources

It has crisscrossing rivers and the water resources can generate 7.5 million kw of power. Chongqing has one of the three largest resources of mineral water in China. It has 38 kinds of mineral deposits, including coal, natural gas, strontium, aluminum oxide, manganese, limestone, marble, spar, gypsum, quartz, mercury, and rock salt. Chongqing leads China and ranks second in the world in deposits of strontium.

 Chongqing’s weather is changeable, and the area has many species of plants and animals. Chongqing is proud of its tourism resources, with mountains, rivers, forests, springs, waterfalls, gorges, and caves all displaying the majesty, the fantasy, the danger, and the seclusion of nature. The famous tourist attractions include the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River; the night view of the City of Mountains; the rock carvings at Dazu--a World Cultural Heritage site; the Lotus Cave, recently discovered near the Four-Sided Mountains; and Tiankeng (Heavenly Pit) and Difeng (Earthly Rift Valley), two rare geological spectacles at Fengjie.

 In addition, Chongqing has vast rural areas with large populations--a great potential for the development of agriculture. The cost of labor is comparatively low.

 Environment and current issues

Population growth rate: 1.28 percent (1998)

Life expectancy (average)

 Ethnicity

 Literacy

• GDP: 148.8 billion yuan
• GDP growth rate: 7.6%
• Average GDP per capita: 4,853 yuan
• GDP ratio (1^st, 2^nd and tertiary industries): 19, 40.93%, and 39.98 percent respectively.
  
  Poverty alleviation plan

The year 1998 witnessed the continuously worsening Asian economic crisis, a sluggish domestic farming products market, increasing pressure of re-employment on cities, and the severe attacks by natural calamities. Many unfavorable factors directly or indirectly affected the economic development in poor areas. All these brought along unprecedented difficulties to carrying through the poverty alleviation plan of Chongqing. Thanks to efforts made by the government as well as local people, the target for 1998 was successfully achieved. The municipal government allocated a total of 307 million yuan for the poverty-relief endeavor. The objective of letting the poor rural population having enough to eat and wear has been integrated with the goal of regional economic development and comprehensive development of mountainous areas. As a result, 850,000 more rural poor began to have adequate food and clothing, and the poverty-stricken population of Chongqing was reduced from 2.05 million in 1997 to 1.2 million. The net income per capita in poor counties reached 1,261 yuan, and the per capita share of grains stood at 480 kg.

 With support from the central government, 10,000 hectares of basic farmland were built. Shortage of drinking water was eased for the poor population of 400,000. A total of 2,000 km country roads were transformed and built. And some 21,000 houses were built to improve the living condition of 15,100 poor families. A group of poverty alleviation projects began to pay off. According to incomplete statistics, about 350 million yuan of the poverty relief funds were invested in production projects, producing sound economic and social benefits.

 Attention has also been paid to training to improve the quality of labor. Many poor families have acquired some technical know-how. Sixty-four primary schools were established with public donations, which helped hundreds of dropout return to school.

The import and export value of Chongqing totaled US$1.21 billion in 1999, up by 37 folds over 1998. Of this sum, the import value was US$720 million and export value was US$490 million. Chongqing now boasts more than 300 export-oriented enterprises and has established economic and trade relations with about 140 countries and regions in the world. It has also set up 70-odd business and trade agencies in 28 countries and regions. Hong Kong is traditionally the largest export market of Chongqing while the largest import market is Japan. With the rapid development of foreign trade, the proportion of industrial finished products in exports is increasingly going up.

 Foreign investment

By the end of 1999, the city had attracted US$5.2 billion in foreign investment. Firms from over 40 countries, including 27 of the world’s top 500 enterprises, had established more than 2,000 enterprises there. The Chongqing Economic and Technological Development Zone at the state level and 10 development zones at the provincial level have served a window on Chongqing. They are the major areas foreign investment goes.

 Pillar industries

Mechanical industry centering on automobile and motorcycle production, chemical industry focusing on natural gas and medicine, and metallurgical industry represented by the production of quality steel and aluminum products.

Telephones

By the end of 1999, computer-controlled telephones now number 3.39 million in Chongqing, with the number of subscribers reaching 2.12 million. A telecommunications network now links Chongqing and Wuhan, capital of Hubei Province. A satellite telecommunication station has also been established. The residents of Chongqing can reach people in 180 countries and regions through IDD. Telephone numbers now have eight digits.

 Radio and TV stations

There are all together 43 radio broadcasting stations, seven TV stations and 41 cable TV stations in Chongqing. The population coverage rate of radio and TV has reached 85 percent and 75 percent respectively.

Railways

Three trunk lines (Chengdu-Chongqing Railway, Changsha-Chongqing Railway and Chengdu-Guizhou Railway) and five feeder railways, totaling 537 km in Chongqing.

 Highways

Five national highways and 17 provincial highways, with traffic mileage totaling 27,200 km in Chongqing.

 Waterways

Dozens of ports and passenger and freight docks have been established along the Yangtze River to facilitate water transportation business from Chongqing to Shanghai and even to overseas countries. The total length of water transportation in Chongqing is more than 4,000 km. After the completion of the Three Gorges water conservation project, ships of over 10,000 tons will be able to reach Chongqing directly.

 Airports

A national Grade 1 civilian airport in Chongqing has opened over 50 domestic and international flights. Two more airports, Wuqiao at Wanzhou and Zhoubai at Qiangjiang, are under construction.

1. Infrastructure construction projects including highways, bridges, tunnels, medium-sized and small hydropower stations, renovation of water conservancy works, irrigation works, urban construction and sewage treatment, environmental protection, and real estate development.

 2.Resources development projects: comprehensive development and in-depth processing of coal, natural resources and metal and non-mental minerals, production of raw materials.

 3. Agricultural projects: development of new breeds, preservation, processing, promotion and application of new technology in relation to quality grain, edible oil, vegetable and fruits; import, farming and processing of fine breeds of domestic animals, poultry and fish; development of export-oriented agricultural projects; harnessing and building of ecological environment.

 4.   Industrial projects: readjustment and transformation of existing state-owned enterprises in industries of machinery, metallurgy, electronics, instruments, light industry, textile, chemical industry, food and building materials to improve their technological level and quality of products and enlarge their market shares; development of manufacturing industries related to electronic information facilities, environmental protection and biological medicine and of new industries of sound market prospect.

 5.   Development of tourism resources and construction of recreational facilities, including the development of scenic spots, improvement of travel transportation and tourist equipment, development of tourist products and

A. Taxation

1. Local income tax

 1) Any foreign-funded enterprise of a production nature scheduled to operate for a period of no less than 10 years shall, from the year profit making, be exempt from local income tax in the first to sixth years and allowed a 50 percent reduction in the seventh to 10th years; the enterprises scheduled to operate for a period of no less than 15 years or with its total investment exceeding US$30 millions shall, from the year of profit making, be exempt from local income tax in the first to eighth years and allowed a 50 percent reduction in the ninth to 15th years. Any foreign-funded enterprises of a production nature scheduled to operate for a period of less than 10 years or of a non-production nature scheduled to operate for a period of no less than 10 years shall, from the year of profit making, be exempt from local income tax in the first and second years and allowed a 50 percent reduction in the third to fifth years.

 2) An foreign-funded enterprise of a production nature set up in the regions inhabited by ethnic minorities or in the remote underdeveloped areas defined by the State Council or the provincial government, or engaged in the prospecting and exploitation of mineral resources and scheduled to operate for a period of no less than 10 years may, upon approval by the tax authorities of an application filed by the enterprise, continue to be allowed a 50 percent reduction of the amount of local income tax payable following the expiration of the period for tax exemption and reduction; the enterprise scheduled to operate for a period of less than 10 years may, upon approval by the tax authorities of an application filed by the enterprise, continue to be allowed a 50 percent reduction of the amount of local income tax parable in the sixth to eighth years following the expiration of the period for tax exemption and reduction.

 3) Any foreign-funded enterprise of a production nature may, when its annual export value exceeds 50 percent of the output value, be exempt from local income tax that year, after the specified period of tax reduction and exemption expires.

 4) Any foreign-funded enterprise engaged in the exploration and comprehensive utilization of natural resources, in the construction of power station, airport, highway, bridge, harbor, wharf, waterworks (excluding pipe network), water conservancy and other infrastructure facilities, shall be exempt from local income tax.

 5) Any foreign-funded enterprise engaged in the housing projects for the medium- and low-income urban residents shall, upon approval by the municipal government, be exempt from local income tax.

 2. Enterprise income tax

 1) The income tax on foreign-funded enterprises of a production nature shall be levied at the rate of 24 percent.

 2) The income tax on foreign-funded enterprises established in economic and technological development zones or the hi-tech enterprises in the hi-tech development zones defined by the State Council shall be levied at the rate of 15 percent.

 3) The income tax on foreign-funded enterprises in technology- and knowledge-intensive projects, in projects with investment over US$30 millions and with long time period for recovery of investment, in energy, transportation and harbor constructions shall, upon approval by the tax authorities, be levied at the rate of 15 percent.

 4) Any foreign-funded enterprise of a production nature scheduled to operate for a period of no less than 10 years shall, from the year of making profit, be exempt from income tax in the first and second years and allowed 50 percent reduction of the amount of income tax payable in the third to fifth years.

 5) Any foreign-funded enterprise that invests in advanced technology may enjoy a 50 percent reduction in income tax for another three years following the expiration of the prescribed period for tax exemption and reduction.

 6) Any export-oriented foreign-funded enterprise shall, when its annual export value makes up more than 70 percent of its output value, upon approval by the tax authorities, be levied at the rate of 10 percent after the expiration of the period for tax exemption and reduction.

 7) Any foreign-funded enterprise engaged in agricultural development, deep processing of agricultural products, and export-oriented agricultural products shall, upon approval by the tax authorities of an application filed by the enterprise, be allowed a 15-30 percent reduction of the amount of income tax payable for another five years following the expiration of the period for tax exemption and reduction.

 8) Any foreign-funded enterprise established in the regions inhabited by ethnic minorities and in the remote underdeveloped areas defined by the State Council and the provincial government that engaging in agricultural development, in deep processing of agricultural products with new technology and in forestry development shall, upon approval by the tax authorities of an application filed by the enterprise, enjoy a 15-30 percent reduction of the amount of income tax payable for another 10 years following the expiration of the period for tax exemption and reduction.

 9) Any foreign investor of an enterprise with foreign investment reinvests its share of profit obtained from the enterprise directly into the enterprise by increasing its registered capital, or uses the profit as capital investment to another business with an operation period of no less than five years shall, upon approval by the tax authorities, be refunded 40 percent of the income tax already paid on the reinvestment amount. The investor that reinvests the profit as capital investment in the enterprise producing for export or in technologically advanced enterprise scheduled to operate for at least five years shall be refunded all the income tax already paid on the reinvested amount.

 10) Any foreign investor which has no establishment in China but derives profit, interest, rental, royalty and other incomes from sources in Chongqing shall, besides the exemption on income tax according to the law, be levied at the reduced rate of 10 percent on such income.

 Where the funds, equipment is provided on favorable conditions, or technology supplied is advanced, more preferences on income tax reduction or exemption shall be decided by the municipal government.

 11) The income tax on the profit from the tollage of the highways invested by foreign investors shall be levied by the Tax Bureau of Chongqing and be collected in Treasury of Chongqing Municipality, the share of which that belongs to the Treasury of Chongqing Municipality shall be wholly refunded to the investor before the foreign investment is recovered.

 3. Refund of tax on export products and extra tax paid

 1) The tax exemption, refunding and compensation to the export products by foreign-funded enterprises shall be dealt with promptly by the tax authorities according to the regulations of the state on tax refunding for export products by enterprises with foreign Investment.

 2) The extra tax paid by foreign-funded enterprises established before December 31, 1997, shall, due to the application of taxes on value added, consumption and business turnover, upon approval by the tax authorities of an application filed by the enterprise, be refunded for a period of no more than five years within the approved term of operation.

 4. Preferential treatment on other taxes

 1) The business tax from tollage on the highways built with foreign investment shall be levied by the local tax authorities and collected by the Treasury of Chongqing Municipality, and shall be refunded or reinvested on the construction of other highways before the investment of the foreign investor is recovered.

 2) A foreign-funded enterprise of a production nature and a foreign-funded enterprise of a non-production nature scheduled to operate for at least 15 years shall be exempt from real estate tax (on newly constructed buildings) and license tax on vehicle and boats for 10 and three years respectively.

 3) Foreign-funded enterprises shall, upon the verification by the tax authorities, be exempt from tax on housing and land and license tax on vehicle and boats within the operation period if they are engaged in the comprehensive agricultural exploration, deep processing of agricultural products with new technology, comprehensive exploration and utilization of natural resources, energy and energy-saving construction, transportation infrastructure, technical renovation in state-owned medium-sized and large enterprises, advanced technology, products for export, urban infrastructure, protection of environment and ecological equilibrium, development of tourism, middle and higher technical education.

 4) Foreign-funded enterprises engaged in scientific agricultural exploration in waste hills and waste land shall, from the year of earning income, be exempt from tax on agriculture for five years.

 5) Foreign-funded enterprises engaged in the development of special agricultural products in waste mountains, hills, land (uncultivated land) shall, from the year of earning income, be exempt from tax on special agricultural products for three years.

 6) Foreign-funded enterprises engaged in the improvement of grassland, pasture, grass seeds and breed of domestic animals shall be taxed at a rate of 3 percent.

 7) Foreign-funded enterprises of a production nature established in the regions inhabited by the ethnic minorities and in remote underdeveloped areas defined at the state and provincial level shall be exempt from tax on housing and land, and license tax on vehicle and boats.

5. Financial institutions overseas are encouraged to set up branches in Chongqing, and international consortiums and corporations shall be encouraged to set up joint ventures, cooperation ventures, wholly foreign-owned enterprises, and branches in Chongqing.

 6. Foreign-funded enterprise are encouraged in the form of joint venture and cooperation venture in the projects of power station, airport, highway, bridge, harbor, wharf, of waterworks (not including the pipe network) water conservancy and other infrastructure facilities. Specific facilities from afore-said projects can be run by foreign investors independently, upon the approval of the government. Foreign-funded enterprise can invest in other enterprises or service business related to the aforesaid projects according to the regulations of the state.

 7. Foreign-funded enterprise are encouraged to become a shareholder, to purchase, merge or contract, lease domestic enterprises of Chongqing.

 8. Units with legal personality of colleges, universities and research institutes, private enterprises are encouraged to set up joint venture and cooperation venture with foreign businessmen. Overseas Chinese students are encouraged to set up enterprises with investment in the name of the company they are working, the enterprises set up in this way shall be regarded as foreign-funded enterprises.

 9. Development of foreign-funded enterprises and rational flow of assets are encouraged

 1) Foreign-funded enterprise with good supply of funds or with good markets for their products are encouraged to set up constituent companies. They are also encouraged to cooperate with domestic enterprises to set up new businesses.

 2) The transfer between foreign and domestic capital are encouraged for the rearrangement of such fund. The transfer shall be regarded as change of registration, and no registration fee shall be charged.

 3) Foreign-funded enterprise are encouraged to set up market for means of production, market for essentials of production and other new types of market with the purpose of reviving assets, particularly the housing and land resources.

 10. Foreign-funded enterprise engaged in major projects or other projects with registered capital over US$2 million can adopt a name with the category of its trade. When overseas investors purchase of merge domestic enterprises, they can either apply for a new name or keep the original name for the new enterprise.

11. Any foreign-funded enterprise can open foreign currency accounts in any banks or financial institutions in Chongqing which have the right in foreign currency business. If there are special needs, the said enterprise can open foreign currency accounts at banks (including foreign banks) in any other cities, which have the right in foreign currency business. Any foreign-funded enterprise can open one or two balance accounts according to its needs, or more than two balance accounts if there is special needs.

 12. Foreign-funded enterprises may get loans from financial institutions, enterprises and individuals abroad, or from foreign financial institutions in China, and they are not subject to a loan quota. The foreign currency borrowed can be converted into Renminbi for the purchase of raw materials and equipment in China. Foreign currency can be bought by Renminbi for the payment of loans.

 13. The profit in foreign currency derived legally from one’s investment can be freely remitted abroad. With agreement from the board of directors and duty paid proof, one’s profit in Renminbi can be changed into foreign currency in the bank appointed by the foreign exchange control administration, and the foreign currency can be remitted abroad or used as capital investment in China.

 14. With an investment agreement a foreign-funded enterprise can open a three-month temporary foreign currency account for its investment credit, the account can be extended if there is special needs.

 15. Foreign currency in cash from exports can be deposited into foreign currency liquidating account or used for the payment of loans, or be converted into Renminbi at a foreign exchange bank or foreign exchange center.

 16. Foreign-funded enterprises shall have the same credit support the Chinese export-oriented enterprise has from the banks in Chongqing when there is shortage of working fund for producing goods for export.

17. Any foreign-funded enterprise which obtains the right to the use of land from the administrative authorities, and the land is for business use, pays site use fee (including development fee and land use fee) at a reduced rate of 50 percent according to the standard decided by Chongqing People’s Government; independent developer pays at the reduced rate of 50 percent of land use fee according to the standard decided by Chongqing People’s Government.

 Any foreign-funded enterprise which obtains the right to the use of land from the administrative authorities shall be exempt from the land use fee when the land is used for agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry and fishing production; for scientific, educational and public health purposes as well as for the construction of power station, airport, highway, bridge, harbor, wharf, and waterworks (excluding the pipe network), water conservancy facilities and other infrastructure facilities.

 18. Any foreign enterprise engaging in export-oriented production project or hi-tech projects shall be exempt from site use fee or land use fee for a period of three years following the operation day, and enjoy a 50 percent reduction of the prescribed fees decided by The municipal government from the fourth year. The enterprise scheduled to operate for a period of more than 10 years shall be exempt from land use fee for five years.

 19. Any foreign enterprise uses land temporarily for prospecting mineral resources shall be exempt from the land use fee for a period of no more than six months, and enjoy a 50 percent reduction of the land use fee fixed by the municipal government from the seventh months.

 20. Any foreign enterprise established in the regions inhabited by the ethnic minorities nationalities or in remote underdeveloped area defined by the State Council or the provincial government shall be exempt from land use fee.

 Any foreign-funded enterprise which purchases the right to the use of land for the construction of power station, airport, highway, bridge, harbor, wharf, waterworks (excluding the pipe network), water conservancy, and other infrastructure facilities shall, upon approval of the authorized government, be allowed the lowest land price, the purchase payment can be entered as suspense debit and be paid by installments within 10 years after the projects go into operation.

 The site use fee or land use fee payable by foreign-funded enterprise is calculated from the date of operation. It shall be paid for six months if the period of business operation is more than six months but less than 12 months, and it shall be exempt if the period is less than six months.

 The standard of site use fee or land use fee payable by a foreign-funded enterprise may, under circumstances, be subject to adjustment every five years. Where those enterprises pay up all the fee for 15 years, the standard shall remain unadjusted.

 22. Any foreign-funded enterprise of a production nature established in the form of joint venture, cooperation venture, technology investment, or other form shall, provided that the Chinese partner’s controlling position remains unchanged, be exempt from the payment for the right of using the land.

 Where the Chinese partner uses the allocated land as contributions in the joint venture or cooperation venture, and its controlling position is changed, the foreign-funded enterprise can, upon application, obtains the right of using the land at the rate of 20 percent of the price. If the Chinese partner still has difficulty in meeting the specified investment proportion, the enterprise can apply for even lower price for the right of using the land or apply for a five-year delay payment.

 23. Any foreign-funded enterprise in hi-tech industry, urban infrastructure facilities, public welfare, power station, airport, highway, bridge, wharf, waterworks (excluding pipe network), water conservancy facilities, the housing projects for the medium- and low- income urban citizens and the housing projects for teachers, shall, upon approval by the municipal government, be exempt from the additional charge for road construction and vegetable plots funds when rural land of collective ownership is needed.

 Any foreign-funded enterprise engaged in the construction of highway, harbor and wharf shall, along the highway and in the harbor district, have priority in housing and land development projects, in service facilities, in road and water transportation. The foreign enterprise can obtain land for its development and use at a favored price in the neighboring towns.

 24. When the ownership or management right of the Chinese partner is leased to body corporate abroad and the legal personality of the Chinese partner is cancelled, the right of using the land shall be claimed back by the county government, and then be transferred or leased out to the leasee enterprise for its use, the leasee shall pay the price for the right of using the land or land use fee according to the regulations of the government.

 When the Chinese enterprise (except its legal personality) is leased out or only the management right is leased out, the right of using the land can either be dealt with according to the aforesaid provision or, upon the approval of the land administration of The municipal government, be leased out to the leasee by the Chinese enterprise, the leasor (or the party stipulated by the lease contract) pays the land use fee.

 25. Any foreign-funded enterprise engaged in the housing projects for the medium- and low-income urban residents shall be allowed the preference stipulated in the Regulations on the Management of the Housing Projects for the Medium- and Low-Income Urban Residents by Chongqing People’s Government, the land shall be granted by the administrative authorities, and the project shall pay less of or be exempt from fees for trading establishments, the construction of civil air defense, the post and telecommunication facilities, fire-fighting facilities, as well as the funds for the renovation of hazardous school buildings, and the funds for water and electricity. Apartment houses for the medium- and low-income urban residents are to be sold at parity price or at low profit first and then to be rented.

 26. Only registration fee is charged when foreign-funded enterprise registers for the right to the use of land. And only the cost is charged for the land appraisal to foreign-funded enterprise engaged in high-tech industry, export-oriented production, basic industry, public utilities, the housing projects for the medium- and low-income urban residents, the housing projects for teachers, the transformation of the enterprises in difficulty or the old enterprises.

 27. Any foreign-funded enterprise which needs land owned by the rural collectives for its projects, the land administration shall represent the government of the same level to make plans on the supply of land, and sign a contract with the foreign-funded enterprise.

 28. Any foreign-funded enterprise engaged in public welfare, scientific and educational programs supported by the state the construction of power station, airport, highway, bridge, wharf, waterworks (excluding the pipe network), the housing projects for the medium- and low-income urban residents and the housing projects for teachers, and other non-commercial enterprises, the land for the projects shall be granted by the government at or above the county level. Foreign enterprise engaged in production, services, real estate, tourism and other profitable industries, the land for the projects shall be acquired by means of purchase, transfer and lease.

 The right to the use of land acquired by the means of lease by foreign-funded enterprise can, upon approval and within the term of the lease contract, be subleased and inherited, but can not be mortgaged.

 29. The land use fee or site use fee shall be collected by the land administration of district, city or county.

 30. When the right to the use of land is acquired by foreign-funded enterprises from the administrative authorities, or the ownership of real estate is transferred to foreign-funded enterprises, the actions should be ratified by the authorized government according to the regulations of State Council. When the authorized government decides not to ratify such actions, the transferor should hand in the land earning from the transfer to the Treasury according to the regulations of State Council.

 31. Any foreign-funded enterprises established in regions inhabited by ethnic minorities and in the remote underdeveloped areas defined by the State Council and the provincial government shall, upon approval by the municipal government, be given more favorable policies after separate negotiation.

 32. Where requisition of the land owned by the rural collectives is made by a foreign-funded enterprise, the land shall be first purchased by the local government, and then be leased to the said foreign-funded enterprise according to the law. When the rural collective economic entity uses the original site as contributions or as the condition for cooperation, or use other land in the joint venture with the foreign-funded enterprise in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishing development, the site or land shall, upon approval by the land administration and recordation with the Chongqing People’s Government, The land ownership can not be changed and the land can not be transferred within the term of the contract.

 33. When appraisal in real estate of foreign-funded enterprise is entrusted, only half appraisal fee of the standard shall be charged.

34. Foreign-funded enterprises shall be able to decide by themselves the ratio of their products for overseas market to for domestic market without restrictions, except for those products on which the state has special regulations.

 35. Where a foreign-funded enterprise invests in the construction and operation of highway, the standard of tollage it charges can be adjusted according to price inflation index, upon the approval of the municipal bureau of finance, price administration, and communication.

 36. In a Chinese-foreign cooperation enterprise engaged in the construction and operation of airport, highway, bridge, harbor, wharf, waterworks (excluding the pipe network) and water conservancy projects, the foreign partner shall have priority in the allotment of earnings from the above projects during the cooperation period.

37. Any foreign-funded enterprise producing products for export can, upon approval by the customs of an application filled by the enterprise, set up bonded warehouses or bonded factories according to its needs.

 38. Where a foreign-funded enterprise needs to get a license for importing goods to produce for domestic market or to export its own products, it should apply to the municipal commission of foreign trade and economy according to the state regulations on the management of import licenses. Where the license is not required, the customs gives pass permit after examination of the related documents.

 39. For any foreign-funded enterprise established in the period from October 1, 1995 to March 31, 1996, with its total investment being less than US$30 million, the deadline for the arrival of imported good shall be prolonged for six months to June 30, 1997, or with its total investment being over US$30 million (including US$30 millions), the date of arrival of imported goods is before June 30, 1998. If the imported goods arrived before these two deadlines, the said foreign-funded enterprise shall enjoy preferential treatment on taxation according to existing regulations.

 If the signed import contract of above foreign-funded enterprises cannot be completed during the period of grace, the period can be extended again according to the regulations of the state.

 Tax exemption and reduction on import of special vehicles and boats within the scope of business of a foreign-funded enterprise shall be approved by the General Administration of Customs.

 40. Where the foreign investment in technical innovation projects which are included in the technical innovation plan of the state or Chongqing before April 1, 1996, totals at least 50 million yuan in the fields of energy, transportation and metallurgy projects, and totals at least 30 millions yuan in light industry, textiles, electronics, the equipment imported before December 31, 1997 shall be allowed a 50 percent reduction on taxes. Where the investment in aforesaid two categories of projects is less than 50 millions yuan and 30 millions yuan respectively, the equipment import before December 31,1996 still enjoys a 50 percent reduction on taxes. If the import contract cannot be completed before the date, the foreign-funded enterprise can apply to the State Economic and Trade Commission for the extension of the period of grace. The Ministry of Finance and related department shall provide their opinions about such application, which shall be submitted to the State Council for approval.

 41. Import of equipment and articles for science and educational purposes by colleges, universities and research institutes continue to enjoy tax immunity.

 42. Import of goods specially designed for the handicapped continue to enjoy the tax preference. The tax preference on goods donated by foreign governments and international organizations shall still be valid. The tax immunity is to be approved by the customs.

 43. The regulations ratified by the State Council concerning the association of the variable levy system on cars, other vehicle (e.g. light truck) and video cameras with their localization rates remain valid during the 1996-2000 period.

 44. The regulations on reducing added value tax on import of airplanes by the civil aviation departments shall continue to be implemented during the 1996-2000 period. The materials and goods imported by the aircraft industry corporation for the production of mainline airplanes shall, within the import quota approved by the State Council, be exempt from customs duty and duty on value added.

 45. Special equipment for communication, harbor, railway, highway and airport imported with the approval of Ministry of Communication and other competent industrial departments continue to enjoy a 50 percent reduction on taxes.

 46. The customs shall give priority and simplified procedures to the credible enterprises for their import and export of major agricultural projects, major engineering products and high-tech products.

 47. Inspection and testing of imported equipment by foreign-funded enterprises shall be conducted jointly by the commodity inspection and testing office and the technical personnel of the enterprises concerned. For foreign-funded enterprises engaged in the exploration of natural resources, power station, airport, highway, bridge, harbor, wharf, high-tech enterprise, or for an enterprise whose export value exceeding 50 percent of its total annual production value, the inspection and testing fees shall be charged at 50 percent of the prescribed rate. Where such fees exceed 5,000 yuan, the extra part shall be collected at a 80-percent rate.

 48. Commodity inspection and testing offices shall actively help those foreign-funded enterprises which are qualified for a certificate of origin enjoying the general preferential system (GPS) understand and make use of the system, and offer to provide GPS visa to every shipment of goods to the country offering the preference.

 49. The machinery, equipment or spare parts imported as a foreign investor’s investment to the foreign-funded enterprises, or imported on the commission of the foreign investor shall be subject to the appraisal by the commodity inspection and testing office, which shall render a quick, efficient and fair appraisal.

 50. In order to enhance the competitiveness of the products of foreign-funded enterprises at both international and domestic markets, the commodity inspection and testing office shall make full use of its advantages in technology and personnel to help enterprises strengthen quality control, improve product quality, and implement ISO9000 systems.

51. Where employees with a unit of public ownership moves to work for foreign-funded enterprises, with the exception of those who are under the special restriction of the central government, they shall be allowed the moves and shall be regarded as moves to the work units of public ownership. The government personnel management departments should actively deal with necessary formalities for them. The managerial and technical personnel already working with foreign-funded enterprises who intend to make a move shall strictly abide by the labor contract signed with their employers. No one shall sign a new labor contract before the termination of the existing one.

 52. The returned personnel from abroad and the university and technical secondary school graduates who go to work for foreign-funded enterprises retain their own status identified according to state regulations, and their status shall be acknowledged in future moves between jobs. The personal files of the professional and managerial personnel, postgraduates with master degree, university and technical secondary school graduates who are employed by foreign-funded enterprises shall be shifted by the personnel departments of local governments to the management of personnel exchange agencies.

 53. Where the professional and technical personnel working for foreign-funded enterprises apply for the professional or technical qualifications, or participate in the examinations conducted by the state for professional and business qualifications, the personnel exchange agencies where their personal files are kept shall deal wit the matter according to the regulations formulated by the municipal working group on the reform of academic and technical titles.

 54. Foreign-funded enterprises can, according to their needs, employ personnel belonging to work units of different ownership.

55. Foreign-funded enterprises engaged in the exploration of mineral resources shall have enjoy following preferential treatment besides those provided by the state:

 1) The fee to the prospecting in the specified district can be paid by installments before tax in the first to fifth years following the commercial exploitation of ore deposits, or paid by installments before tax in two years where the term of the license for mineral exploitation is less than 10 years.

 2) The regulations of the state on the acceleration of depreciation for fixed assets shall be applicable during the phase of commercial exploitation.

 3) A reduced rate for mineral resources compensation shall be taken into consideration where the exploitation are conducted in the regions inhabited by ethnic minorities and in remote underdeveloped areas defined by the State Council and the provincial government.

 4) A reduced rate or exemption from mineral resources compensation shall be taken into consideration where internationally advanced technology is used in the exploitation of low-grade ores or ores difficult for dressing and smelting.

 5) Foreign-funded enterprises which operate at a loss due to force majeure can be allowed a maximum of 50 percent reduction of the mineral resources compensation or delayed payment for the deficit year.

 6) For the comprehensive exploitation of associated minerals in the specified district, the mineral resources compensation shall be levied at the reduced rate of less than 50 percent. Where the kinds of ores are under the restrictions of the state, the mining shall be reported to the municipal administration of geology and mineral resources for recordation. The ores of which the purchase is monopolized by the state shall be purchased by the departments appointed by the state.

 7. Where the mineral products mined are to be smelted and processed locally, the concerned departments shall facilitate the smelting, processing and transportation of these products.

56. Foreign staff of a foreign-funded enterprise may pay, in Renminbi, for accommodation in hotels and medical cares in hospitals in Chongqing with a special ID card for them. They shall enjoy national treatment.

 57. Water, electricity and gas supply for foreign-funded enterprises shall be included in the local supply program. Foreign-funded enterprises and domestic enterprises shall be treated equally and be charged with the same standards of price.

 58. Foreign-funded enterprises pay as much the road toll for the cars of their own use or the cars brought in from abroad by themselves as domestic enterprises do. The original standard of double charges shall be cancelled.

 59. Foreign-funded enterprises have the right to refuse any administrative and institutional fees which breach the regulations of the State Council, the ministries and commissions, or the local government.