China: Corporate Investment
ASIA/PACIFIC
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A DIFFERENT TAX JURISDICTION
On this Page:
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China: Foreign Investment Regime
- China: Incentive Regimes
- China: Availability of Skilled Workers and Business Infrastructure
China: Foreign Investment Regime
Prior
to 2004, foreign investment into China, although welcomed,
was restricted in various ways, both in terms of structure
and in terms of sector. Then, partly in response to
a perceived need to be more encouraging, and partly
in order to gain admission to the World Trade Organization,
China gradually began to loosen up. By now, most sectors
are fully open, and there are few remaining restrictions.
China made concessions in a number of areas in order
to gain access to the WTO:
- Foreign
companies are gradually being permitted to enter
the telecoms industry.
- China
junked regional restrictions on foreign insurance
companies, allowing them to provide health insurance,
group insurance and pension/annuity services anywhere
in China.
- 100%-foreign-owned
companies are allowed to engage in retailing and
wholesaling in China without geographic restrictions.
-
China now allows foreign retail participation in
JVs in the five special economic zones (SEZs) of
Hainan, Shantou, Shenzhen, Xiamen and Zhuhai, as
well as the cities of Beijing (the capital), Dalian,
Guangzhou, Qingdao, Shanghai and Tianjin.
- Foreign
banks are gradually being allowed greater scope
for their investments in permissible business and
geographic areas. Overseas banks, which were previously
limited to doing business in local currency with
foreign companies, are now permitted to conduct
business in the local currency with Chinese enterprises
and this is being extended to renminbi business
with local individuals.
-
JVs with minority foreign shareholdings may engage
in fund management on the same terms as Chinese
businesses.
- Foreign
securities companies may establish fund-management
JVs and hold ownership of up to 49%.
- The
requirements for law firms operating in China have
been relaxed, although there are still some restrictions.
- Professionally
licensed accountants, previously subject to mandatory
localisation requirements, have unrestricted access
to the Chinese market.
Until
2008, there were quite substantial tax incentive programs
aimed at encouraging foreign investment, particularly
in high technology sectors. Foreign investors were treated
more leniently than equivalent domestic firms, from
a fiscal perspective. But the Unified Enterprise Taxation
regime brought into effect in that year largely removed
the differences.
Before
2008 (see below), foreign investment enterprises (“FIEs”)
of a production nature that expected to operate in China
for more than ten years could apply for an exemption
from income tax for two years, beginning from the first
profit-making year, and a 50% tax reduction in the following
three years. Starting from January 1, 2002, income derived
from projects funded by additional capital injection
was entitled to receive a tax holiday similar to a newly
formed FIE if the projects fell within the “Encouraged”
category of the new Industry Catalogue and the additional
capital injection amount reached either of the following.
- At
least US$60 million.
- At
least US$15 million and at least 50% of the original
registered capital.
A range of other reductions and exemptions was available,
subject to certain criteria. A reduced income tax rate
of 15% was possible for production FIEs in the Economic
and Technological Development Zones and for enterprises
engaged in production or business operations in the
Special Economic Zones. A tax rate of 24% was possible
for production FIEs located in the different economic
open zones, depending on the location of the project.
The
Chinese authorities established special preferences
for projects involving high-tech and export-oriented
investments. Priority sectors included transportation,
communications, energy, metallurgy, construction materials,
machinery, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment,
environmental protection and electronics.
Foreign
investors sometimes had to negotiate incentives and
benefits directly with the relevant government authorities;
some incentives and benefits were not conferred automatically.
The incentives available included significant reductions
in national and local income taxes, land fees, import
and export duties, and priority treatment in obtaining
basic infrastructure services.
Foreign
enterprises transferring technology inside China were
exempted from business tax; if the technology is advanced
and with preferential conditions, the enterprise income
tax was exempted with the approval of the taxation department
under the State Council. Income obtained by foreign-invested
enterprises (including research and development centres
set up with foreign investment) through technological
transfer was exempted from business tax.
China encouraged reinvestment of profits. A foreign
investor could obtain a refund of 40 percent of taxes
paid on its share of income, if the profit was reinvested
in China for at least five years. Where profits were
reinvested in high-technology or export-oriented enterprises,
the foreign investor might receive a full refund.
In
2008, China unified the income tax treatment of domestic
and foreign enterprises with the new Enterprise Income
Tax Law (the “New Law”). The New Law, effective
from January 1st 2008, provides for a 25% statutory
rate that applies to both domestic and foreign-funded
enterprises and, subject to transition relief, enterprises
that have enjoyed preferential treatment. Many foreign-funded
enterprises will face higher rates due to the new unified
rate and the loss of tax holidays and certain other
incentives, but new and high-technology enterprises
may still benefit from a 15% rate.
The
cabinet said that the new law would be phased in over
five years. Companies that paid income tax of 15% will
pay 18% in 2008, 20% in 2009, 22% in 2010, 24% in 2011
and 25% from 2012.
Companies
that are exempt from taxes or have concessional rates
will retain their preferences until the original expiration
date.
Companies
can make a one-time choice of the tax system that will
be most beneficial.
The
cabinet said the transitional steps targeted companies
registered with industry and commerce administrations
before March 16, 2007.
Companies
in the western part of the country aren't affected by
the new law but will continue to enjoy preferential
rates under regulations jointly issued by the Ministry
of Finance, the State Administration of Taxation and
China's Customs authority.
Also,
the country will offer incentives for key high-tech
companies registered in special economic zones, including
Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou, Xiamen and Hainan, as well
as in Shanghai Pudong New Area, on and after January
1st, 2008.
These
companies must have proprietary technology and must
comply with a range of requirements to be classified
as high-tech enterprises.
For
earnings collected within their district of registration,
such companies would be exempted from corporate income
tax for the first two tax years and pay income tax of
just 12.5% from the third to the fifth tax years. Gains
from outside these areas must be calculated separately.
Also included in the New Law are international taxation
concepts wholly or partly new to China: the determination
of residence under the “managed or controlled”
concept; controlled foreign corporations; cost-sharing
agreements; thin capitalisation; and deemed paid foreign
tax credits. The New Law also strengthens transfer-pricing
administration. The New Law only provides a framework
of general tax provisions. Important details on the
definition of numerous terms are left to the detailed
implementation regulations and supplementary tax circulars.
In
addition to the loss of tax holiday and reduced rate
benefits, some withholding tax rates also increased
under the New Law.
Hong
Kong is the largest “foreign” investor in
Mainland China, but with China’s WTO entry making
the operating environment more transparent and predictable,
firms increasingly are investing directly in the Mainland.
As part of this trend, Shanghai is emerging as a major
alternative to Hong Kong as a regional headquarters
for foreign investors in China, although China’s
limitations on currency convertibility continue to present
problems for many investors, regardless of investment
form, destination within China or origin.
China
attempts to guide new foreign investment towards "encouraged"
industries and regions. Over the past seven years, China
has implemented new policies introducing incentives
for investments in high-tech industries and in the central
and western parts of the country in order to stimulate
development in those less developed areas. A Catalogue
of Foreign Investment took effect January 5, 2005, replacing
the April 2002 Catalogue. The catalogue designates sectors
in which foreign investment are encouraged, restricted
or prohibited. Unlisted sectors are permitted.
According
to an accompanying regulation to the catalogue, projects
in “encouraged” sectors benefit from duty-free
import of capital equipment and value-added tax rebates
on inputs. The same regulation states that approval
authority for “restricted” investments rests
with the relevant central government ministry and may
not be delegated to the local level. For a number of
restricted industries, a Chinese controlling or majority
stake is required. Industries in which foreign investment
is prohibited include national defense, firearms manufacturing,
most media content sectors, and biotechnology seed production.
China's
WTO membership has certainly made for fundamental changes
in the country's degree of engagement with other parts
of the world. China has frequently resorted to the WTO's
dispute mechanism, as have its trading partners, often
with an outcome not in China's favour. In December,
2009, for instance, the
WTO's Appellate Body confirmed that China's restrictions
on the importation and distribution of certain copyright-intensive
products, including films for theatrical release, DVDs,
music, books and journals, are inconsistent with China's
WTO obligations.
The
ruling was the result of a dispute procedure initiated
by the United States in April 2007, in which Washington
sought to address three significant market access concerns.
First,
the US accused China of prohibiting foreign enterprises
and individuals from importing reading materials, audiovisual
home entertainment products such as DVDs, music and
other sound recordings, and films for theatrical release.
The WTO panel report found that China's key importation
restrictions on these products were inconsistent with
its obligations under its WTO Accession Protocol. The
panel also found that China's restrictions were not
justified by the exception in the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 related to the protection
of public morals.
Secondly,
China prohibits foreign enterprises from distributing
certain reading materials and from distributing music
electronically. The US also believed that China imposes
discriminatory operating requirements on foreign-invested
distributors of reading materials and DVDs. The WTO
panel report found that these prohibitions and discriminatory
operating requirements were inconsistent with China's
obligations under the General Agreement on Trade in
Services.
Thirdly,
the US complained that certain imported products face
more burdensome requirements before they may be distributed
in China than domestic products. The panel found that
because of these requirements, China discriminates against
imported reading materials in several significant ways
in breach of the national treatment obligation in the
GATT 1994.
"Today
America got a big win," commented US Trade Representative
Ron Kirk. "We are very pleased that the WTO has
found against China's import and distribution restrictions
on US movies, music, DVDs and publications."
"The
Appellate Body's findings are key to ensuring full market
access in China for legitimate, high-quality entertainment
products and the exporters and distributors of those
products," Kirk continued. "US companies and
workers are at the cutting edge of these industries,
and they deserve a full chance to compete under agreed
WTO rules. We expect China to respond promptly to these
findings and bring its measures into compliance."
The
Appellate Body report, published December 21, called
on China to eliminate the discriminatory treatment that
US distributors of certain products face – such
as discriminatory operating term and capital requirements
– as well as to allow US companies to partner
with Chinese enterprises in joint ventures to distribute
music and other sound recordings over the internet.
"This
case is also an important part of our efforts to combat
intellectual property piracy," Kirk noted. "The
panel and Appellate Body findings ensure that legitimate
American products are granted market access so that
they can get to market and beat out the pirates. This
finding helps to ensure that America's creative ingenuity
and innovation are protected abroad."
Chinese
news agency Xinhua reported that China's Ministry of
Commerce "expressed regret" over the loss
of the appeal against the WTO ruling. According to the
report, ministry spokesman Yao Jian said in an online
statement that the characteristics of cultural products
determined that they should be managed differently to
other imports.
It
is not always true, though, that legal pressure is necessary
to compel China to open itself to international trade.
In April, 2010,
Western firms were able to welcome a decision by Beijing
to ease procurement rules that effectively prevent foreign
firms from supplying the Chinese government with computers
and other technological equipment.
The
procurement rules, known as China's 'indigenous innovation'
policy, were drawn up in 2009, and required companies
to obtain patents, trademarks and other intellectual
property in China before any other country. However,
in a draft of the new rules released for public comment
on April 12, the Chinese government appeared to have
relaxed these requirements so that companies which have
legal rights over the intellectual property of the products
may qualify to take part in the procurement process.
The
European Chamber of Commerce in China said that the
rule change represents "an important sign that
policymakers in China recognize the role that fair competition
plays in developing and enhancing China's high-tech
capabilities," although it remains to be seen how
the new rules work in practice.
Concerns
remain over China's general stance towards the rest
of the world, and in July, 2010, Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao reassured foreign investors of the stability
of the country’s investment climate, countering
fears that China’s economic environment is worsening.
Wen
issued the reassurance at a meeting with Germany’s
Chancellor Angela Merkel and a group of business leaders
from China and Germany and added that his country would
not block the export of rare metals needed in the manufacture
of computers and mobile phones.
Wen
countered an allegation that China’s investment
environment had deteriorated by saying “I think
it is untrue”. Senior executives from some of
Germany’s biggest companies were present at the
meeting, including Siemens and BASF, the chemical giant.
The
business leaders called on the Chinese government to
handle foreign investment with fairness and equity,
though the value of trade deals between China and Germany
already exceeds USD100bn, with foreign investments up
by USD12.5bn in the last year.
Speaking
to reassure foreign investors, the Premier said: “Those
that have entered China all enjoy national treatment,
as do Chinese companies, whether they are a foreign-funded
company, a joint venture or a joint stock company”.
The
meeting was seen as important as China is the world’s
biggest exporter of rare earth minerals and is the EU’s
largest trading partner.
Back to top
China: Incentive
Schemes
NB:
Some of the incentive regimes described in this section
have been cut back or abandoned under the new Unified
Enterprise Income Tax Law introduced in 2008. It is
difficult to generalize: municipalities plough their
own furrow to a great extent, although perhaps less
so now than formerly, so it is always worth enquiring
in a particular region what may be on offer.
The
Special Economic Zones of Shenzhen, Shantou, Zhuhai,
Xiamen and Hainan, 14 coastal cities, dozens of development
zones and designated inland cities all promote investment
with unique packages of tax incentives. The Pudong area
in Shanghai is particularly noteworthy as a location
for Chinese experiments in liberalization, which are
then extended nationwide. In recent years, Chinese authorities
have also established a number of free ports and bonded
zones.
Various
types of tax abatement have been available to foreign
investment enterprises and foreign enterprises with
establishments in China located in Special Economic
Zones (SEZs), which are Shenzhen (including Shekou),
Zhuhai, Shantou in Guangdong Province, Xiamen in Fujian
Province and Hainan Province. Newly-established entities
in such zones are usually free of tax for the first
few years; and a reduced rate of 15% applies to foreign
investment enterprises engaged in production or manufacturing
activities located within the Pudong Development Zone
in Shanghai and within the Economic and Technology Development
Zones of the 14 Open Cities, which are Beihai, Dalian,
Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Lianyungang, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao,
Qinhuangdao, Shanghai, Tianjin, Wenzhou, Yantai and
Zhanjiang.
Foreign
investment enterprises engaged in production and manufacturing
activities located within the Coastal Open Economic
Regions (Liaodong Peninsula, Shandong Peninsula, Changjiang
and Pearl River Deltas, and Southern Fujian, including
Zhangzhou and Quanzhou Delta Areas) and within the 14
Open Cities, Provincial Capitals and Changjiang Cities
are taxed at a reduced rate of 24%.
Foreign
investment enterprises engaged in production and manufacturing
activities in Beijing and Chongqing are also taxed at
a reduced rate.
Tax
holidays and significant reductions in the tax rate
are available to the following:
- Foreign
investment enterprises engaged in production and
manufacturing activities with an operating period
of 10 years or more;
- Foreign
investment enterprises engaged in production and
manufacturing activities in SEZs, the Pudong Development
Zone, and Economic and Technology Development Zones;
- Export-oriented
and technologically advanced foreign investment
enterprises; and
- Infrastructure
projects in SEZs and in the Pudong Development Zone
scheduled to operate 15 years or more.
In
late 2003, China and Hong Kong signed six documents
that set out the implementation details of the CEPA
(Closer Economic Partnership Agreement) which came into
force from January 2004.
The
main feature of the agreement was the initial elimination
of tariffs on 273 classes of goods imported from Hong
Kong in the initial stage of the deal with further tariffs
erased in 2006. The documents also finally set out the
definition of Hong Kong service suppliers.
"We
believe that the zero import tariff preference will
make it more attractive to undertake in Hong Kong manufacturing
of brand name products, or manufacturing processes with
high value-added content or substantial intellectual
property input," commented Henry Tang. A rush of multinational
companies is said to be taking advantage of the CEPA
deal, which makes location in a low-tax Chinese mainland
Special Economic Zone an irrelevance for Hong Kong-based
companies in many instances.
In
November, 2004, the Chinese State Administration of
Taxation announced an increase in export tax rebates
for domestically-manufactured products catering for
the information technology sector. According to the
government announcement, the tax rebate was set to rise
to 17% from 13%, and benefit makers of integrated circuits,
liquid crystal displays and mobile telephone base stations,
among other products.
The
increase in the tax rebate was retroactively applied
from 1st November, 2004.
In
January, 2005, the second phase of the Closer Economic
Partnership Arrangement (CEPA II) came into force. Under
the trade liberalisation deal, from January 1 2005,
Hong Kong originated products covered in 1,108 Mainland
2005 tariff codes may enter China tariff-free, while
Hong Kong service suppliers will gain preferential access
to the Mainland market in 26 service areas.
According
to the government, applications for CEPA Certificates
of Origin, or CO(CEPA), and Certificates of Hong Kong
Service Supplier (HKSS) are increasing steadily, and
the Trade and Industry Department has also started receiving
applications for CEPA II.
The
TID operates four funding schemes for small and medium
enterprises which allow Hong Kong firms to secure financing
enabling them to produce zero-tariff goods. The schemes
also permit firms to hold trade fairs and exhibitions
to promote their business in the Mainland and take courses
about the opening-up of the Mainland market.
"Publicity
about CEPA is a priority area of the TID's work,” the
TID spokesman continued, adding:
"We
will continue to proactively liaise with the business
and professional communities to understand their needs
and discuss with them appropriate policy measures that
may help them.”
In
October, 2005, Hong Kong and China reached agreement
on liberalisation measures under the third phase of
the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership
Arrangement.
The
legal text of CEPA III was signed on October 18 by Hong
Kong's Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang and China's
the Vice-Minister of Commerce, Mr Liao Xiaoqi, after
a High Level Meeting of the Joint Steering Committee
under CEPA.
Welcoming
the agreement, Mr Tang observed that the new measures
will substantially build upon trade liberalisation already
put into effect under the first and second phases of
the CEPA.
"These
additional measures will offer new business opportunities
on the Mainland for Hong Kong enterprises and professionals
and enhance Hong Kong's attractiveness to overseas investors.
They will also help sustain Hong Kong's broad-based
economic recovery and facilitate creation of new jobs
in the private sector," he explained.
Under
CEPA III, the Mainland agreed to give all products of
Hong Kong origin tariff free treatment starting from
January 1, 2006, upon application by local manufacturers
and upon the CEPA rules of origin (ROOs) being agreed
and met.
On
trade in services, under CEPA III, there are 23 liberalisation
measures spreading across 10 areas, namely legal, accounting,
audiovisual, construction, distribution, banking, securities,
tourism, transport and individually owned stores.
The
Mainland has also agreed to allow Hong Kong legal representative
offices to enter into association with Mainland law
firms in different cities of the same province; and
to allow Hong Kong people practising law on the Mainland
to be employed at the same time by a law firm outside
the Mainland.
All the liberalisation measures took effect on January
1, 2006.
China's
State Council eased restrictions on the trading of the
Chinese currency, the renminbi, in Hong Kong under an
agreement between the Mainland and the Special Administrative
Region to expand the scope of the Closer Economic Partnership
Arrangement (CEPA).
Hong
Kong importers are allowed to settle direct import trades
from the Mainland in renminbi, while financial institutions
in the Mainland can issue renminbi financial bonds in
Hong Kong.
Additional
new measures under CEPA also cover goods and services,
and enhanced cooperation on intellectual property protection.
All
measures took effect from January 1, 2007.
In
July 2008, Supplement V to the CEPA was signed, expanding
the total number of services sectors covered from 38
to 40.
The
Chinese mainland has introduced 29 liberalisation measures
covering 17 service sectors, including two new sectors
- services incidental to mining, and related scientific
and technical consulting services.
The
measures came into force on 1st January, 2009.
Hong
Kong and Guangdong also implemented a package of liberalisation
and facilitation measures on an early and pilot basis
to enhance mutual economic and trade co-operation.
HK
Financial Secretary John Tsang and China's Vice-Minister
of Commerce Jiang Zengwei signed the document.
Witnessing
the signing, Chief Executive Donald Tsang observed that
the new package will open more opportunities for Hong
Kong traders who wish to enter the Mainland market.
The
measures will not only bring mutual economic benefits
but will also create a solid platform for enhancing
economic integration between the two jurisdictions,
he suggested.
For
conventions and exhibitions, enterprises formed by Hong
Kong service suppliers on a wholly-owned, equity joint
venture or contractual joint venture basis in Beijing,
Tianjin, Chongqing and Zhejiang will be allowed to organise
overseas exhibitions on a pilot basis.
In
banking, any Mainland-incorporated banking institution
established by a Hong Kong bank will be allowed to locate
its data centre in Hong Kong, subject to the fulfilment
of certain requirements.
In
construction and related engineering services Hong Kong
professionals obtaining the mainland's registered Urban
Planner or Supervision Engineer qualification will be
allowed to register and practice in Guangdong regardless
of whether they are registered practitioners in Hong
Kong or not.
Restrictions
on the proportion of the total capital contributed by
mainland partners in forming construction and engineering
design enterprises in the form of an equity joint venture
or contractual joint venture on the mainland will also
be removed.
In
accounting, the validity period of the Provisional Licence
to Perform Audit-related Services, applied for by Hong
Kong accounting firms to conduct auditing businesses
on a temporary basis on the mainland, will be extended
from two years to five.
In
addition to various other measures, the two sides also
agreed to enhance co-operation in branding, trademark,
e-commerce in the area of trade and investment facilitation,
and to continue work on mutual recognition of professional
qualifications in accounting and construction.
In
February 2010, a total of 100 cartoon production companies
in China passed scrutiny and became certificated by
the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Finance and
the State Administration of Taxation in order to gain
entitlement to preferential tax treatment.
Selected
as key players from about 400 candidates across the
nation, these companies, 34 of whom have registered
capital of at least RMB10m (USD1.47m), will be exempt
from at least six types of taxes in 2010. Of these enterprises,
26 are located in Beijing, 15 in Jiangsu, 10 in Hunan,
eight in Guangdong, and seven in Tianjin.
They
will be entitled to preferential tax treatment in value-added
tax, corporate income tax, business tax, import tariff,
and import-related VAT. From May to July each year,
provincial agencies will conduct annual inspections
to ensure that the companies live up to expected standards
in order to continue enjoying preferential tax treatment.
The
Ministry of Culture published a policy statement in
August, 2009, laying out China's ambition to become
a big player in the industry, supported by the 300 million
or more Chinese youngsters who watch cartoons. According
to China Daily, Chinese cartoons shine on the world
stage, now that cartoon channel Nickelodeon has launched
ChinaToon, a one-hour segment showcasing original Chinese
animations.
Xiao
Yongliang, deputy dean of the School of Arts and Communication,
Beijing Normal University, told China Daily that the
government had promoted the industry since 2006 by investing,
giving tax breaks and setting up an office to coordinate
efforts. Xiao pointed out that China could learn from
the US, where at "Disney, Pixar, or Dreamworks,
there are special teams developing software to make
cartoons, but in China, we only use foreign techniques."
The
certification jointly carried out by the Ministry of
Culture, the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration
of Taxation is considered an important step to implement
the nation's fiscal policy in support of animation enterprises
in an all-around way.
In
May, 2010, international transport services incorporated
within China were granted an exemption from business
tax under a notice issued by the Chinese government.
The Notice, issued jointly by the Ministry of Finance
and the State Administration of Taxation, applies to
revenues generated from international and regional routes,
and applied retroactively from January 1, 2010.
In
a statement made to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Air
China said that, based on actual air traffic revenue
earned from international and regional routes, the airline
would obtain an estimated benefit of approximately CNY549m
(USD80m) for 2009.
The
exemption applies to any firm or individual that provides
international delivery services, including shipping
companies, according to the ministry of finance website,
and any tax already paid would be refunded.
Cosco
Shipping Co., a unit of China Ocean Shipping (Group)
Co., also announced an expected CNY42m saving for 2009
from the tax exemption.
In
August, 2010, China said it would
grant tariff and value-added tax exemptions on imports
of qualifying scientific and technological equipment,
components, and raw materials to be used on major approved
strategic projects.
Circular
[2010] 28 issued by the the Chinese State Administration
of Taxation on July 24, 2010 entitled “interim
provisions for special import taxes on major technology
imports” states that, as from July 15, 2010, tax
exemptions may be applied for imports that assist in
the implementation of the State Council's national long-term
scientific and technological development plan (2006-2020).
The
Circular states that the imports should be in support
of “major national strategic products, key generic
technologies and major engineering research and development,
and which help create an environment encouraging independent
innovation”.
The
exempted items can include supplies to the following
sectors:
- Core
electronics;
-
High-technology universal chips;
-
Basic software;
-
Integrated circuit-manufacturing equipment;
-
New generation wireless mobile communication networks;
-
High technology machine tools and basic manufacturing
equipment;
-
Large oil and gas fields and coal bed methane development;
-
Large-scale advanced pressurized water reactor and temperature
gas cooled reactor nuclear power stations;
-
Water pollution control and management;
-
New genetically modified organisms; and
-
New pharmaceuticals for prevention and treatment of some
infectious diseases like AIDS and hepatitis.
In
the same month, the government identified a need for
Chinese shipbuilders to have more tax-friendly financial
packages at their disposal. China
overtook South Korea to become the world's top shipbuilding
country for the first time in the first half of 2010.
In
anticipation of the need to provide support services
for shipping, Tianjin, China's third largest city has
been nominated for development. Tianjin is located on
the estuary of the Haihe River on Bohai Bay and is the
main port of North China.
Incentives
may be offered to foreign companies wishing to establish
the right kind of shipping service offices there, which
could include allocation of land and tax breaks.
With
the approval of the National Development and Reform
Commission, the Tianjin Shipbuilding Industry Fund was
established at the end of 2009 with initial investments
of CNY2.85bn (USD420m) and ambitions to raise CNY20bn.
Cui
Jindu, deputy mayor of Tianjin recently announced that
China's two major shipbuilders, China CSSC Holdings
and the China Shipbuilding Industry Corp., intended
participating in the fund.
A
recent report indicated that the fund had already financed
45 new ship orders for domestic shipbuilders and fostered
investments of CNY15bn in shipbuilding projects.
Tianjin
has the ear of central government with regard to providing
the right tax incentives for ship financing packages
and is spearheading developments in this direction.
However,
there are also complaints that ship-financing in China
is hindered by red tape and tax regulations, especially
a 5% tax on operating leases which some consider to
be discouraging business. Other issues such as vessel
registration procedures may also act as a disincentive.
Additionally,
in August, China said it wanted to promote growth in
the outsourcing industry by offering exemption from
business (turnover) tax on offshore service outsourcing
business in 21 cities.
According
to a notice issued by the Chinese ministry of finance,
the 5% business tax exemption was effective from July
1 this year until December 31, 2013 in Beijing, Tianjin,
Dalian, Harbin, Daqing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi,
Hangzhou, Hefei, Nanchang, Xiamen, Ji'nan, Wuhan, Changsha,
Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Chengdu and Xi'an and
refunds of tax already paid would be given.
Offshore
service outsourcing income is defined as service revenue
arising from contracts signed with offshore entities
for the provision of information technology outsourcing,
business processing outsourcing and knowledge processing
outsourcing services.
Data
provided in a report by the commerce ministry show that
China is second only to India as a provider of outsourcing
services, and in 2009, outsourcing service income generated
in China increased by a record 151.9% to USD10.1bn.
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China: Availability
of Skilled Workers and Business Infrastructure
China
has a huge population, abundant labour resources and
a relatively low level of wages. The Chinese work force
is of a relatively high quality. Generally speaking,
overseas-funded enterprises set up in China are satisfied
with the quality of Chinese workers and technicians.
China's
railway, highway, civil aviation and telecommunications
sectors have been growing rapidly, and its urban and
rural transport conditions have become convenient. Coastal
areas have built or expanded large numbers of ports,
wharves and berths, and enjoy excellent conditions for
ocean-going transportation. Advanced modern telecommunications
technology and equipment have found extensive use in
China's telecommunications and telephone networks. Electricity
supply to foreign-funded enterprises can be guaranteed.
In many cities, facilities for foreigners' living, cultural
entertainment and commercial services are complete.
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