缅甸水利资源丰富，伊洛瓦底江、钦敦江及萨尔温江三大水系贯穿南北，投资缅甸水电项目是中国企业参与大湄公河次区域经济合作的重要方式。据统计，截至2012年，缅甸在建水电项目共有62个，其中缅甸电力行业监管部门电力一部在建12个，与缅甸企业合作建设6个，与外国企业合作建设44个，外国企业成为缅甸水电项目的主要参与者。随着中国企业“走出去”战略的实施，中国企业亦积极参与缅甸水电项目投资，除此前的中电投集团投资缅甸伊洛瓦底江流域水电开发项目[1]、中国华能集团投资的瑞丽江水电站BOT项目[2]外，近期，中国三峡集团、中国水利水电建设集团、中国南方电网公司组成的中方联合体正与缅甸及泰国共同开发缅甸孟东水电站项目，该项目计划总投资约100亿美元，规划装机约700万千瓦，是东南亚已有、在建和规划水电站中装机规模最大的水电站，库容约与三峡电站相当，并已于2013年下半年完成可行性研究。可见，中国企业对缅甸水利资源的利用仍方兴未艾。
本文将对外国投资者投资缅甸水电项目法律环境进行简要介绍，以供读者对缅甸水电投资的法律环境有概况了解。
Continue Reading 缅甸水电项目投资法律环境介绍
By Mark Schaub and David Hong King & Wood Mallesons’ Foreign Investment Group
Most media attention in relation to Shanghai’s Free Trade Zone (FTZ) has been in relation to banking sector liberalization and RMB internationalization.
However, personally the writers have felt that some of the greater opportunities in the short to mid- term would be in comparative niches. One such niche is a distinct opportunity for game console manufacturers such as Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.
Continue Reading Free Trade Zone has Silver Lining for Gaming Companies
在中国大城市几乎看不到商场不能满足急切购物者的情形——旗舰店、明亮的灯光、长队……但是，在中国的老外却很难买到一些特定的商品——因为没有Body Shop——也无法买到Lush生产的古怪肥皂……
在中国市场上无法看到许多品牌的原因是一些化妆品和身体护理产品的公司政策反对动物试验。直至今日，中国仍要求对化妆品和身体护理产品进行动物试验，并作为消费者安全政策的一部分。但现在，实践中正在逐步地变化。
Continue Reading 兔子的喜讯 —— 中国将逐步取消化妆品强制动物试验
By Mark Schaub and David Hong King & Wood Mallesons’ FDI Group
There is little that China’s big cities’ retail scene cannot offer the eager shopper – flagship stores, bright lights, long lines … However, the long term China expat will still often miss specific items – the lack of a Body Shop … the quirky soaps manufactured by Lush …
Continue Reading Rabbits Rejoice – End of PRC Animal Testing Requirements Nears
by Wang Rui and Qiu Shaolin King & Wood Mallesons’ M&A Group
Introduction
Cloud computing has become quite a hot topic for discussion over the past few years. However, although recent interest in cloud computing has increased, it is not a completely new type of service. For example, when you send an email through Gmail, or store pictures on social media websites, you are using cloud computing services.
In China, cloud computing services has experienced fast and dynamic growth in recent years. The market value of China’s public cloud computing services for the year of 2012 increased by 73 per cent compared to 2011, and the estimated market value for 2013 is expected to reach RMB 6.3 billion.[1] The growth of China’s cloud computing industry has aroused great interest among foreign service providers. In May 2013, Microsoft Corporation announced that it would add several thousand employees to its work force in China as part of a long-term investment in the cloud computing market. [2] However, since foreign investment in the Chinese cloud computing industry is restricted, there are concerns about the short and long term benefits of foreign investment due to the limited participation of foreign investors in the market.[3]Continue Reading CLOUD COMPUTING: KEY TELECOMMUNICATION REGULATORY ISSUES FOR FOREIGN SERVICE PROVIDERS IN CHINA
by Dina Yin, Zhao Yan and Miao Jing King & Wood Mallesons’ Mergers & Acquisitions Group
PRC tax authorities have clarified, effective July 1, 2013, that oil and gas companies producing shale gas/coal bed methane (“CBM”) or service providers related to such production will be subject to a 17% VAT when providing labor services in relation to the production of shale gas or CBM.Continue Reading Shale Gas and CBM Companies to Pay VAT
By King & Wood Mallesons’ Compliance Group
With environmental pollution front and center in the Chinese press, the government in Beijing has moved to address at least one aspect of the problem – soil pollution. In a likely sign that new regulations on soil quality are on their way, the State Council recently issued a directive titled “Working Arrangement of the Recent Environmental Protection and Comprehensive Treatment of Soil.” Investors take note: the policies proposed by the Council will almost certainly impact existing and future investments in sectors such as manufacturing and heavy industry, as well as investments in geographic areas deemed to be ecologically sensitive.
Continue Reading Push For Soil Quality Regulations Will Have Consequences for Investors
作者：金杜律师事务所法律合规组
随着环境污染问题逐步占据中国媒体的头版头条，中央政府也开始寻求解决环境问题的方案，土壤污染问题就是其中的一个突破口。国务院最近发布了题为《近期土壤环境保护和综合治理工作安排》的通知，这将预示着政府将在土壤环境保护方面进行大量的立法工作。投资者应当注意： 该通知一定会对您在华，不论是现阶段还是将来的投资产生深远的影响。尤其体现在制造业、重工业领域，以及一些环境保护的敏感地区。
Continue Reading 对投资者产生深远影响的土壤环境治理规则
By Dina Yin King & Wood Mallesons’ Mergers & Acquisitions Group
Last week on May 15, 2013, China’s State Council published a decision to further eliminate certain administrative examination and approval items《国务院关于取消和下放一批行政审批项目等事项的决定》(国发(2013)19号) (the “Decision”). According to the Decision, certain items (including projects, activities, organizations and other similar matters) which previously required central government approval now no longer require such approval.
Continue Reading MOFCOM Approval on Sino-Foreign Petroleum Contracts No Longer Required
《跨国战略——中国企业海外投资法律与实务》是金杜律师事务所资深合伙人徐萍律师关于中国企业境外投资并购的新作。
本书从专门从事跨境并购的律师视角，以作者亲身参与的大量跨境并购的实战经验为基础，对境外投资各种形式及环节进行概括性的介绍。境外投资由于涉及的地域、行业和交易形式各异，所涉及问题千差万别，难以一概而论。本书旨在阐述和提示境外投资并购一些常见的法律和商务风险，并提出应对之策。本书内容丰富，详细介绍了中国企业“走出去”的方方面面可能遇到的问题，具有很强的实用性和针对性，是作者跨境并购法律服务经验和智慧的结晶，也同时体现了金杜处理并购领域复杂交易的综合实力。
Continue Reading 新书推荐 – 《跨国战略——中国企业境外投资法律与实务》
