A Study on Major Types of Foreign Direct Investment in China and Legal Considerations of Joint Venture Contracts

Abstract

Since 1979 when the process of economic reforms started, foreign direct investment in China has increased dramatically as substantial legal and economic reforms have made foreign direct investment more predictable and more profitable. It is very crucial for foreign investors to select a proper type of foreign direct investment to be successful in China. Although there are a number of types of foreign investment, including companies limited by shares, most foreign investment enterprises have taken the form of joint ventures. In practice, a major consideration that most foreign investors face is how to successfully conclude a joint venture contract in conjunction particularly with antitrust issues and laws governing joint ventures. Thus, this paper examines major types of foreign direct investment, focusing on joint ventures, and also analyzes legal considerations of joint venture contracts, emphasizing their significance in foreign direct investment.