中华人民共和国商务部令

二〇二〇年 第3号

 

《外商投资企业投诉工作办法》已经2020年8月18日商务部第29次部务会议审议通过，现予公布，自2020年10月1日起施行。

 

部 长   钟 山

2020年8月25日

 

外商投资企业投诉工作办法

 

 

第一章 总则

 

第一条 为及时有效处理外商投资企业投诉，保护外商投资合法权益，持续优化外商投资环境，根据《中华人民共和国外商投资法》和《中华人民共和国外商投资法实施条例》，制定本办法。

 

第二条 本办法所称外商投资企业投诉，是指：

 

（一）外商投资企业、外国投资者（以下统称投诉人）认为行政机关（包括法律、法规授权的具有管理公共事务职能的组织）及其工作人员（以下统称被投诉人）的行政行为侵犯其合法权益，向投诉工作机构申请协调解决的行为；

 

（二）投诉人向投诉工作机构反映投资环境方面存在的问题，建议完善有关政策措施的行为。

 

前款所称投诉工作机构，是指商务部和县级以上地方人民政府指定的负责受理外商投资企业投诉的部门或者机构。

 

本办法所称外商投资企业投诉，不包括外商投资企业、外国投资者申请协调解决与其他自然人、法人或者其他组织之间民商事纠纷的行为。

 

第三条 投诉工作机构应当坚持公平公正合法、分级负责原则，及时处理投诉人反映的问题，协调完善相关政策措施。

 

第四条 投诉人应当如实反映投诉事实，提供证据，积极协助投诉工作机构开展投诉处理工作。

 

第五条 商务部会同国务院有关部门建立外商投资企业投诉工作部际联席会议制度（以下简称联席会议），协调、推动中央层面的外商投资企业投诉工作，指导和监督地方的外商投资企业投诉工作。联席会议办公室设在商务部外国投资管理司，承担联席会议的日常工作，指导和监督全国外商投资企业投诉中心的工作。

 

第六条 商务部负责处理下列投诉事项：

 

（一）涉及国务院有关部门，省、自治区、直辖市人民政府及其工作人员行政行为的；

 

（二）建议国务院有关部门，省、自治区、直辖市人民政府完善相关政策措施的；

 

（三）在全国范围内或者国际上有重大影响，商务部认为可以由其处理的。

 

商务部设立全国外商投资企业投诉中心（以下简称全国外资投诉中心，暂设在商务部投资促进事务局），负责具体处理前款规定的投诉事项。

 

全国外资投诉中心组织与外商投资有关的政策法规宣传，开展外商投资企业投诉工作培训，推广投诉事项处理经验，提出相关政策建议，督促地方做好外商投资企业投诉工作，积极预防投诉事项的发生。

 

第七条 县级以上地方人民政府应当指定部门或者机构（以下简称地方投诉工作机构）负责投诉工作。地方投诉工作机构应当完善投诉工作规则、健全投诉方式、明确投诉事项受理范围和投诉处理时限。

 

地方投诉工作机构受理投诉人对本地区行政机关及其工作人员行政行为和建议完善本地区相关政策措施的投诉事项。

 

第八条 投诉人依照本办法规定申请协调解决其与行政机关之间争议的，不影响其在法定时限内提起行政复议、行政诉讼等程序的权利。

 

第九条 《中华人民共和国外商投资法》第二十七条规定的商会、协会可以参照本办法，向投诉工作机构反映会员提出的投资环境方面存在的问题，并提交具体的政策措施建议。

 

第二章 投诉的提出与受理

 

第十条 投诉人提出投诉事项，应当提交书面投诉材料。投诉材料可以现场提交，也可以通过信函、传真、电子邮件、在线申请等方式提交。

 

各级投诉工作机构应当公布其地址、电话和传真号码、电子邮箱、网站等信息，便利投诉人提出投诉事项。

 

第十一条 属于本办法第二条第一款第（一）项规定的投诉的，投诉材料应当包括下列内容：

 

（一）投诉人的姓名或者名称、通讯地址、邮编、有关联系人和联系方式，主体资格证明材料，提出投诉的日期；

（二）被投诉人的姓名或者名称、通讯地址、邮编、有关联系人和联系方式；

 

（三）明确的投诉事项和投诉请求；

 

（四）有关事实、证据和理由，如有相关法律依据可以一并提供；

 

（五）是否存在本办法第十四条第（七）、（八）、（九）项所列情形的说明。

 

属于本办法第二条第一款第（二）项规定的投诉的，投诉材料应当包括前款第（一）项规定的信息、投资环境方面存在的相关问题以及具体政策措施建议。

 

投诉材料应当用中文书写。有关证据和材料原件以外文书写的，应当提交准确、完整的中文翻译件。

 

第十二条 投诉人可以委托他人进行投诉。投诉人委托他人进行投诉的，除本办法第十一条规定的材料以外，还应当向投诉工作机构提交投诉人的身份证明、出具的授权委托书和受委托人的身份证明。授权委托书应当载明委托事项、权限和期限。

 

第十三条 投诉材料不齐全的，投诉工作机构应当在收到投诉材料后7个工作日内一次性书面通知投诉人在15个工作日内补正。补正通知应当载明需要补正的事项和期限。

 

第十四条 投诉具有以下情形的，投诉工作机构不予受理：

 

（一）投诉主体不属于外商投资企业、外国投资者的；

 

（二）申请协调解决与其他自然人、法人或者其他组织之间民商事纠纷，或者不属于本办法规定的外商投资企业投诉事项范围的；

 

（三）不属于本投诉工作机构的投诉事项处理范围的；

 

（四）经投诉工作机构依据本办法第十三条的规定通知补正后，投诉材料仍不符合本办法第十一条要求的；

 

（五）投诉人伪造、变造证据或者明显缺乏事实依据的；

 

（六）没有新的证据或者法律依据，向同一投诉工作机构重复投诉的；

 

（七）同一投诉事项已经由上级投诉工作机构受理或者处理终结的；

 

（八）同一投诉事项已经由信访等部门受理或者处理终结的；

 

（九）同一投诉事项已经进入或者完成行政复议、行政诉讼等程序的。

 

第十五条 投诉工作机构接到完整齐备的投诉材料，应当在7个工作日内作出是否受理的决定。

 

符合投诉受理条件的，应当予以受理并向投诉人发出投诉受理通知书。

 

不符合投诉受理条件的，投诉工作机构应当于7个工作日内向投诉人发出不予受理通知书并说明不予受理的理由。属于本办法第十四条第一款第（三）项情形的，投诉工作机构可以告知投诉人向有关投诉工作机构提出投诉。

 

第三章 投诉处理

 

第十六条 投诉工作机构在受理投诉后，应当与投诉人和被投诉人进行充分沟通，了解情况，依法协调处理，推动投诉事项的妥善解决。

 

第十七条 投诉工作机构进行投诉处理时，可以要求投诉人进一步说明情况、提供材料或者提供其他必要的协助，投诉人应当予以协助；投诉工作机构可以向被投诉人了解情况，被投诉人应当予以配合。

 

根据投诉事项具体情况，投诉工作机构可以组织召开会议，邀请投诉人和被投诉人共同参加，陈述意见，探讨投诉事项的解决方案。投诉工作机构根据投诉处理工作需要，可以就专业问题听取有关专家意见。

 

第十八条 根据投诉事项不同情况，投诉工作机构可以采取下列方式进行处理：

 

（一）推动投诉人和被投诉人达成谅解（包括达成和解协议）；

 

（二）与被投诉人进行协调；

 

（三）向县级以上人民政府及其有关部门提交完善相关政策措施的建议；

 

（四）投诉工作机构认为适当的其他处理方式。

 

投诉人和被投诉人签署和解协议的，应当写明达成和解的事项和结果。依法订立的和解协议对投诉人和被投诉人具有约束力。被投诉人不履行生效和解协议的，依据《中华人民共和国外商投资法实施条例》第四十一条的规定处理。

 

第十九条 投诉工作机构应当在受理投诉之日起60个工作日内办结受理的投诉事项。涉及部门多、情况复杂的投诉事项，可以适当延长处理期限。

 

第二十条 有下列情况之一的，投诉处理终结：

 

（一）投诉工作机构依据本办法第十八条进行协调处理，投诉人同意终结的；

 

（二）投诉事项与事实不符的，或者投诉人拒绝提供材料导致无法查明有关事实的；

 

（三）投诉人的有关诉求没有法律依据的；

 

（四）投诉人书面撤回投诉的；

 

（五）投诉人不再符合投诉主体资格的；

 

（六）经投诉工作机构联系，投诉人连续30日无正当理由不参加投诉处理工作的。

 

投诉处理期间，出现本办法第十四条第（七）、（八）、（九）项所列情形的，视同投诉人书面撤回投诉。

 

投诉处理终结后，投诉工作机构应当在3个工作日内将投诉处理结果书面通知投诉人。

 

第二十一条 投诉事项自受理之日起一年未能依据本办法第二十条处理终结的，投诉工作机构应当及时向本级人民政府报告有关情况，提出有关工作建议。

 

第二十二条 投诉人对地方投诉工作机构作出的不予受理决定或者投诉处理结果有异议的，可以就原投诉事项逐级向上级投诉工作机构提起投诉。上级投诉工作机构可以根据本机构投诉工作规则决定是否受理原投诉事项。

 

第二十三条 投诉工作机构应当建立健全内部管理制度，依法采取有效措施保护投诉处理过程中知悉的投诉人的商业秘密、保密商务信息和个人隐私。

 

第四章 投诉工作管理制度

 

第二十四条 投诉工作机构应当建立投诉档案管理制度，及时、全面、准确记录有关投诉事项的受理和处理情况，按年度进行归档。

 

第二十五条 地方投诉工作机构应当每两个月向上一级投诉工作机构上报投诉工作情况，包括收到投诉数量、处理进展情况、已处理完结投诉事项的详细情况和有关政策建议等。

 

省、自治区、直辖市投诉工作机构应当在单数月前7个工作日内向全国外资投诉中心上报前两个月本地区投诉工作情况，由全国外资投诉中心汇总后提交联席会议办公室。

 

第二十六条 地方投诉工作机构在处理投诉过程中，发现有关地方或者部门工作中存在普遍性问题，或者有关规范性文件存在违反法律规定或者明显不当的情形的，可以向全国外资投诉中心反映并提出完善政策措施建议，由全国外资投诉中心汇总后提交联席会议办公室。

 

第二十七条 全国外资投诉中心督促各省、自治区、直辖市投诉工作，建立定期督查制度，向各省、自治区、直辖市人民政府通报投诉工作情况，并视情向社会公示。

 

第二十八条 全国外资投诉中心应当按年度向联席会议办公室报送外商投资企业权益保护建议书，总结外商投资企业、外国投资者、商会、协会、有关地方和部门反映的典型案例、重大问题、政策措施建议，提出加强投资保护、改善投资环境的相关建议。

 

第五章 附则

 

第二十九条 投诉工作机构及其工作人员在处理外商投资企业投诉过程中滥用职权、玩忽职守、徇私舞弊的，或者泄露、非法向他人提供投诉处理过程中知悉的商业秘密、保密商务信息和个人隐私的，依据《中华人民共和国外商投资法》第三十九条的规定处理。

 

第三十条 投诉人通过外商投资投诉工作机制反映或者申请协调解决问题，任何单位和个人不得压制或者打击报复。

 

第三十一条 香港特别行政区、澳门特别行政区、台湾地区投资者以及定居在国外的中国公民所投资企业投诉工作，参照本办法办理。

 

第三十二条 本办法由商务部负责解释。

 

第三十三条 本办法自2020年10月1日起施行。2006年9月1日商务部第2号令公布的《商务部外商投资企业投诉工作暂行办法》同时废止。

英文版（English）

Order of the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

2020 No.3

 

The Rules on Handling Complaints of Foreign-Invested Enterprises has been adopted at the 29th ministerial conference of the Ministry of Commerce on August 18, 2020. It is hereby promulgated and shall come into force as of October 1, 2020.

 

Minister of Commerce

Zhong Shan

August 25, 2020

Rules on Handling Complaints of Foreign-Invested Enterprises

 

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 These Rules are formulated in accordance with the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Implementation Regulation of the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China, for the purposes of handling complaints of foreign-invested enterprises in a timely and effective manner, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investors, and continuously optimizing foreign investment environment.

Article 2 The complaints of foreign-invested enterprises referred to in these Rules mean:

(1) making applications by foreign-invested enterprises or foreign investors (hereinafter collectively referred to as the Complainant)to Agencies Handling Complaints for coordination to resolve matters, alleging that administrative actions administrative agencies (including organizations authorized with the function of public affairs administration by laws and regulations) and their staff members (hereinafter collectively referred to as the Complainee) have infringed the Complainant’s legitimate rights and interests; or

(2) reporting issues concerning investment environment and suggesting improvements of relevant policies and measures by the Complainant to Agencies Handling Complaints.

Agencies Handling Complaints referred to in the preceding paragraph mean the Ministry of Commerce and the departments or institutions designated by local people's governments at and above the county level to accept complaints of foreign-invested enterprises.

The complaints of foreign-invested enterprises referred to in these Rules do not include applications of foreign-invested enterprises or foreign investors for coordination to settle civil and commercial disputes with other natural persons, legal persons or other organizations.

Article 3 Agencies Handling Complaints shall adhere to the principles of fairness, impartiality, lawfulness, and different levels of Agencies Handling Complaints shall fulfill their due responsibilities. Agencies Handling Complaints shall promptly deal with matters raised by Complainants, and coordinate to improve relevant policies and measures.

Article 4 The Complainant shall truthfully present the facts of the complaint, provide evidence, and actively assist Agencies Handling Complaints to handle the complaints.

Article 5 The Ministry of Commerce, in conjunction with other relevant departments under the State Council, establishes an inter-ministerial joint meeting system for complaints of foreign-invested enterprises (hereinafter referred to as the Joint Meeting) to coordinate and facilitate the handling of complaints of foreign-invested enterprises at the central level, and guide and supervise the handling of complaints of foreign-invested enterprises at the regional level. The Department of Foreign Investment Administration of the Ministry of Commerce serves as Office of Joint Meeting, which is responsible for the daily work of the Joint Meeting and guiding and supervising the work of the National Center for Complaints of Foreign-Invested Enterprises.

Article 6 The Ministry of Commerce shall be responsible for handling the following complaints:

(1) where the matter is related to administrative actions of the relevant departments under the State Council, people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities and their staff members;

(2) where suggestions are made for relevant departments under the State Council and people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities to improve relevant policies and measures; and

(3) where the matter has significant national or international impact, and could be handled by the Ministry of Commerce as it deems fit.

The Ministry of Commerce establishes the National Center for Complaints of Foreign-Invested Enterprises (hereinafter referred to as the National Center, which is temporarily seated at the Investment Promotion Agency of the Ministry of Commerce), which is responsible for handling the complaints referred to in the preceding paragraph.

The National Center organizes publicity campaigns on laws, regulations and policies relating to foreign investment, conducts training on handling complaints of foreign-invested enterprises, shares experience in handling complaints, puts forward relevant policy recommendations, supervises handling complaints of foreign-invested enterprises at local levels, and effectively avoids the occurrence of complaints.

Article 7  Local people's government at and above the county level shall designate a department or institution (hereinafter referred to as Local Agencies Handling Complaints) to be responsible for handling complaints. Local Agencies Handling Complaints shall improve the working rules for complaint handling, expand complaint channels, and specify the scope of acceptable complaints, and the time limits for handling complaints.

Local Agencies Handling Complaints shall accept complaints concerning administrative actions of administrative agencies of their region and their staff members, or complaints concerning suggestions to improve relevant policies and measures of their region.

Article 8 The filing of a Complainant for coordination to resolve disputes with administrative agencies in accordance with these Rules is without prejudice to its rights to initiate administrative reconsideration, administrative litigation and etc. within the statutory time limits.

Article 9 Chambers of commerce and associations referred to in the Article 27 of the Foreign Investment Law of the People's Republic of China may, with reference to these Rules, submit the issues concerning investment environment raised by their members, and specific suggestions on policies and measures to Agencies Handling Complaints.

Chapter II Filing and Acceptance of Complaint

Article 10 Complainants shall submit written complaint materials when filing a complaint. Complaint materials may be submitted on-site, or by letter, fax, e-mail, online application system and other ways.

Agencies Handling Complaints at all levels shall publish their contact information such as address, telephone and fax number, e-mail address, and website to help the Complainant file complaints.

Article 11 Complaint materials shall include the following, if the complaint is filed under subparagraph (1), paragraph 1 of Article 2 of these Rules:

(1) the Complainant’s name, correspondence address, postcode, relevant contact person and contact information, relevant identity certificate, and the date of filing;

(2) the Complainee’s name, correspondence address, postcode, relevant contact person and contact information;

(3) specific issues and claims of complaint;

(4) relevant facts, evidence and reasoning; together with relevant legal basis, if any; and

(5) description whether circumstances referred to in the subparagraphs (7), (8) and (9) of Article 14 of these Rules exist.

Complaint materials shall include information prescribed by the subparagraph (1) of the preceding paragraph, issues concerning investment environment and specific suggestions on policies and measures, if the complaint is filed under subparagraph (2), paragraph 1 of Article 2 of these Rules:

The complaint materials shall be written in Chinese. If relevant evidence and original documents are written in foreign languages, accurate and complete Chinese translations shall be submitted.

Article 12 The Complainant may entrust others to file complaints. If the Complainant entrusts others to file complaints, in addition to the materials prescribed in Article 11 of these Rules, the identity certificate of the Complainant, power of attorney issued by the Complainant and identity certificate of the entrusted party shall also be submitted to Agencies Handling Complaints. The power of attorney shall specify the entrusted matters, the scope and the time limits.

Article 13 Where the complaint materials are incomplete, Agencies Handling Complaints shall notify the Complainant in a single written notice within 7 working days after receiving the complaint materials and request the Complainant to make supplementation or corrections within 15 working days. The written notice shall specify the materials to be supplemented or corrected and the time limits.

Article 14 The complaint shall not be accepted if any of the following circumstances exists:

(1) the Complainant is not a foreign-invested enterprise or foreign investor;

(2) the Complainant applies for coordination to settle civil and commercial disputes with other natural persons, legal persons or other organizations, or not within the scope of complaints of foreign-invested enterprises prescribed by these Rules;

(3) the complaint is not within the acceptable scope of the respective Agencies Handling Complaints;

(4) the complaint materials fail to meet the requirements referred to in the Article 11 of these Rules, after being supplemented or corrected in accordance with the notice referred to in the Article 13 of these Rules;

(5) the Complainant forged or altered the evidence or the complaint is manifestly without factual basis;

(6) the Complaint refiles a complaint to the same Agency Handling Complaints without submitting any new evidence or legal basis;

(7) the same complaint matter has been accepted or the complaint handling process has been terminated by Agencies Handling Complaints at higher level;

(8) the same complaint matter has been accepted or the respective procedure has been terminated by public complaints and proposals administration and etc.; or

(9) the same complaint matter has been referred to, or settled by, administrative reconsideration, administrative litigation and etc.

Article 15 Agencies Handling Complaints shall make decision on whether to accept the complaint within 7 working days upon receipt of complete complaint materials.

The complaint shall be accepted, provided that it satisfies the conditions, and an acceptance notice shall be issued to Complainant.

Where the complaint fails to satisfy the conditions, the Agencies Handling Complaints shall, issue the notice of rejection with reasons for rejection to Complainant, within 7 working days. Under the circumstance referred to in the subparagraph (3), paragraph 1 of Article 14 of these Rules, the Agencies Handling Complaints may inform the Complainant to file the complaint to relevant Agencies Handling Complaints.

Chapter III Complaint Handling

Article 16 Once the complaint is accepted, the Agency Handling Complaints shall conduct sufficient communications with the Complainant and the Complainee, collect information, coordinate to handle complaints in accordance with law, and work for an appropriate solution for the complaint.

Article 17 When handling complaints, the Agencies Handling Complaints may request the Complainant to assist by offering further explanations, and providing documents or other necessary assistance, the Complainant shall provide assistance as requested; the Agencies Handling Complaints may request the Complainee to provide information, and the Complainee shall cooperate as requested.

According to the specifics of complaints, the Agencies Handling Complaints may organize meetings, and invite the Complainant and the Complainee to state their opinions and discuss possible solutions to the complaint matter. If needed in the complaint handling process, the Agencies Handling Complaints may seek opinions of relevant experts on professional issues.

Article 18 According to the specifics of complaints, the Agencies Handling Complaints may handle complaints in the following ways:

(1) promoting mutual understanding (including reaching a settlement agreement) between the Complainant and the Complainee;

(2) coordinating with the Complainee;

(3) submitting recommendations on improving relevant policies and measures to people's governments at and above the county level and their relevant departments; or

(4) other methods that the Agencies Handling Complaints deem appropriate.

The settlement agreement signed between the Complainant and the Complainee shall specify the matters and contents of the settlement. The settlement agreement concluded in accordance with law shall be binding on the Complainant and the Complainee. If the Complainee fails to implement the effective settlement agreement, Article 41 of the Implementation Regulation of the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China shall apply.

Article 19 Agencies Handling Complaints shall complete the complaint handling process within 60 working days after the acceptance of the complaints. For complaints involving multiple departments or complicated matters, the time limits can be extended as appropriate.

Article 20 The Complaint handling process shall be terminated if any of the following circumstances exists:

(1) Agencies Handling Complaints coordinate to handle the complaints in accordance with the Article 18 of these Rules, and the Complainant agrees to terminate the process;

(2) the complaint lacks factual basis; or if the Complainant refuse to provide materials, which makes it impossible to examine relevant facts;

(3) the Complainant's claim lacks legal basis;

(4) the Complainant withdraws the complaint in writing;

(5) the Complainant no longer meets the identity qualification; or

(6) after being contacted by the Agency Handling Complaints, the Complainant has not participated in the complaint handling process for 30 consecutive days without justifiable reasons;

During the complaint handling process, if any of the circumstances referred to in the subparagraphs (7), (8) and (9) of Article 14 of these Rules occurs, the complaint shall be deemed as withdrawn in writing by Complainant.

Once the complaint handling process is terminated, the Agency Handling Complaints shall notify the Complainant of the result in writing within 3 working days.

Article 21 If the complaint handling process has not been terminated within 1 year after the acceptance of the complaints in accordance with Article 20 of these Rules, Agencies Handling Complaints shall promptly report the matters to people’s government at the same level, and provide relevant recommendations.

Article 22 If the Complainant objects to the rejection decisions issued by Local Agencies Handling Complaints, or is dissatisfied with the results of the complaint handling, such Complainant may submit the original complaint matter to the Agency Handling Complaints at a higher level. The Agency Handling Complaints at a higher level may decide whether to accept such original complaint matter in accordance with its working rules for complaint handling.

Article 23 Agencies Handling Complaints shall establish and improve their internal management systems, and take effective measures in accordance with law to protect trade secrets, confidential business information and personal privacy of Complainants obtained during the complaint handling process.

Chapter IV Administrative System of Complaint Handling

Article 24 Agencies Handling Complaints shall establish their complaints archive management system, update records for the acceptance and handling of relevant complaints in a timely, comprehensive and accurate manner, and archive annually.

Article 25 Local Agencies Handling Complaints shall submit complaints records to Agency Handling Complaints at a higher level every two months, including the total number of complaints, update for the handling process, detailed information of the terminated complaints and relevant policies recommendations.

Agencies Handling Complaints of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities shall submit the complaints records of the last two months of their regions to the National Complaint Center within the first 7 working days of every odd numbered month, and the National Center shall collect and submit those records to the Office of Joint Meeting.

Article 26 During the complaint handling process, if Local Agencies Handling Complaints identify the existing general issues of relevant local governments or departments, or identify the relevant normative documents inconsistent with laws or containing manifestly inappropriate contents, they may report to the National Center accordingly and submit recommendations for the improvement of policies and measures. The National Center shall collect and submit those recommendations to the Office of Joint Meeting.

Article 27 The National Center supervises complaint handling of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, establishes a regular supervision and inspection system, circulates the complaint records to people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, and publishes such records as it deems appropriate.

Article 28 The National Center shall submit proposal on the protection of foreign-invested enterprises’ rights and interests to the Office of Joint Meeting annually. The proposal shall compile the representative cases, major issues and recommendations of policies and measures which were raised by foreign-invested enterprises, foreign investors, chamber of commerce, associations, relevant local governments and relevant departments, and provide relevant recommendations on the strengthening of investment protection and improvement of investment environment.

Chapter V Supplementary Provisions

Article 29 If Agencies Handling Complaints and their staff members, during the complaint handling process of foreign-invested enterprises, abuses powers, neglects duties, engages in malpractices for personal gain or disclose or illegally provide others with any trade secret, confidential business information or personal privacy obtained during such handling process, the Article 39 of the Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic of China shall apply.

Article 30 No entity or individual may suppress or retaliate against Complainants who raise matters or apply for coordination to resolve matters through the complaint mechanism for foreign-invested enterprises.

Article 31 The handling of complaints concerning enterprises invested by investors from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, the Taiwan region and Chinese citizens residing overseas, shall be governed with reference to these Rules.

Article 32 The Ministry of Commerce is responsible for the interpretation of these Rules.

Article 33 These Rules shall come into force as of October 1, 2020. The Interim Rules of the Ministry of Commerce on Complaints of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, which was published by Decree No. 2 of the Ministry of Commerce and dated September 1, 2006, shall be repealed simultaneously.