To expand the opening-up drive, to promote the reform and development of Chinese commercial enterprises and construction of the domestic market, and to facilitate the experiments with the utilization of foreign investment in the commercial sector, the State Economic and Trade Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation have worked out and promulgated Experimental Measures for Foreign-funded Commercial Enterprises. Currently, the Measures only permit foreign companies and enterprises to set up with Chinese companies and enterprises Chinese-foreign equity and contractual joint venture commercial enterprises in China. Wholly foreign-invested commercial enterprises are not allowed yet. Major stipulations are as follows:
1). The equity and contractual joint venture commercial enterprises to be established must comply with the commercial development plan of the locale city and should have the capacity to introduce world-advanced marketing techniques and management experience, advance local commercial modernization, propel exportation of domestic products and produce good economic and social results.
2). As stipulated by the State Council, the areas where equity and contractual joint venture commercial enterprises may be established are limited temporarily to provincial capital cities, capitals of autonomous regions, municipalities directly tender the jurisdiction of the central government, cities listed as independent units in the state plan, and special economic zones (hereafter referred to as pilot areas).