{"id":110894,"date":"2025-09-10T11:49:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T11:49:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/?post_type=comparative_guide&#038;p=110894"},"modified":"2025-09-12T10:17:53","modified_gmt":"2025-09-12T10:17:53","slug":"china-enforcement-judgments","status":"publish","type":"comparative_guide","link":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/chapter\/china-enforcement-judgments\/","title":{"rendered":"China: Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"template":"","class_list":["post-110894","comparative_guide","type-comparative_guide","status-publish","hentry","guides-enforcement-judgments","jurisdictions-china"],"acf":[],"appp":{"post_list":{"below_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">Commerce &amp; Finance Law Offices<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2021\/06\/Square-with-white-background.jpg\"\/><\/span><\/div>"},"post_detail":{"above_title":"<div class=\"guide-author-details\"><span class=\"guide-author\">Commerce &amp; Finance Law Offices<\/span><span class=\"guide-author-logo\"><img src=\"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1\/2021\/06\/Square-with-white-background.jpg\"\/><\/span><\/div>","below_title":"<span class=\"guide-intro\">This country specific Q&amp;A provides an overview of Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters laws and regulations applicable in China<\/span><div class=\"guide-content\"><div class=\"filter\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Search questions and answers...\" class=\"filter-container__search-field\">\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<ol class=\"custom-counter\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What international conventions, treaties or other arrangements apply to the enforcement of foreign judgments in your jurisdiction and in what circumstances do they apply?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">(1) International conventions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">As of 25 July 2025, China is not a party to any international convention or multilateral treaty that governs the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">(2) Bilateral treaties.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">As of 25 July 2025, China has concluded bilateral treaties on judicial assistance in civil and criminal matters with 40 countries, 38 of which have entered into force. Among these, 35 treaties contain provisions on the recognition and enforcement of civil and commercial judgments (<em>see attached chart<\/em>), excluding those concluded with the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Singapore.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">For judgments rendered by courts in the countries listed below, the respective bilateral treaties govern their enforcement in China.<\/p>\n<table style=\"font-size: 10px\" border=\"1\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"4\" width=\"314\"><em>Countries arranged by effective date:<\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">1<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">France<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">19<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Uzbekistan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">2<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Poland<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">20<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Tajikistan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">3<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Mongolia<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">21<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Morocco<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">4<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Romania<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">22<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Vietnam<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">5<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Russia<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">23<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Tunisia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">6<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Belarus<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">24<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Laos<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">7<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Spain<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">25<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Lithuania<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">8<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Ukraine<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">26<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">United Arab Emirates<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">9<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Cuba<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">27<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">North Korea<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">10<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Italy<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">28<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Argentina<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">11<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Egypt<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">29<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Peru<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">12<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Bulgaria<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">30<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Algeria<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">13<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Kazakhstan<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">31<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Kuwait<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">14<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Turkey<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">32<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Brazil<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">15<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Cyprus<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">33<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Bosnia and Herzegovina<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">16<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Greece<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">34<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Ethiopia<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">17<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Hungary<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\">35<\/td>\n<td width=\"173\">Iran<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"29\">18<\/td>\n<td width=\"82\">Kyrgyzstan<\/td>\n<td width=\"29\"><\/td>\n<td width=\"173\"><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">(3) Other arrangements.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions maintain separate legal systems under the \u201cOne Country, Two Systems\u201d policy. Judgments rendered by courts in these regions are not considered domestic Chinese judgments. Their recognition and enforcement are primarily governed by special legal arrangements, such as <em>Arrangement on Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters by the Courts of the Mainland and of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region<\/em> (Fa Shi [2024] No. 2), but these are not addressed in this overview.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What, if any, reservations has your jurisdiction made to such treaties?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p>Not applicable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Can foreign judgments be enforced in your jurisdiction where there is not a convention or treaty or other arrangement, e.g. under the general law?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">In the absence of a convention, treaty, or arrangement, Chinese general law governs the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. The relevant provisions are found in Articles 298 to 303 of the Chinese Civil Procedure Law (2023 Amendment) and the Interpretation of the Civil Procedure Law issued by the Supreme People\u2019s Court of China (SPC).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">In addition, the SPC issued the <em>Conference Summary of the National Court&#8217;s Symposium on Foreign-Related Commercial and Maritime Trial Work<\/em> on 24 January 2022 (&#8220;Conference Summary&#8221;). It provides detailed guidelines for reviewing applications related to foreign judgments, including standards for interpreting reciprocity, as well as an ex-ante internal approval mechanism. Though not legally binding, the Conference Summary has significantly influenced judicial practice and is frequently cited as persuasive authority in court rulings.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Specifically, according to Article 298 of the Civil Procedure Law, in the absence of any treaty, foreign judgments may be recognized and enforced based on the principle of reciprocity. Over the past decade, China has moved away from the rigid \u201c<em>de facto<\/em> reciprocity\u201d toward more flexible standards, namely, <em>de jure<\/em> reciprocity, reciprocal understanding or consensus, and reciprocal commitment, as outlined in the Conference Summary:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 0\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">De jure reciprocity. Reciprocity can be established on the basis that, under the law of the country where the judgment is rendered, a Chinese judgment is capable of being enforced by that foreign court. In <em>Spar Shipping AS v. Grand China Logistics Holding (Group) Co., Ltd.<\/em>, an English judgment was recognized and enforced in China for the first time ((2018) Hu 72 Xie Wai Ren No. 1).<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Reciprocal understanding or consensus. In 2018, the Supreme Court of China and the Supreme Court of Singapore signed the <em>China-Singapore Memorandum of Guidance on Recognition and Enforcement of Money Judgments in Commercial Cases<\/em> (\u201cMoG\u201d). The MoG reflects a form of reciprocal understanding, affirming that Chinese courts may recognize and enforce Singaporean judgments on the basis of reciprocity. The MoG was first invoked in <em>Power Solar System Co., Ltd. v. Suntech Power Investment Pte. Ltd.<\/em>, where a Chinese court recognized and enforced a Singapore judgment. Similarly, a Chinese court recognized and enforced a Thai monetary judgment ((2023) Gui 71 Xie Wai Ren No. 1), based on the reciprocal consensus set out in the Nanning Statement of the 2nd China-ASEAN Justice Forum in 2017.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Reciprocal commitment. In 2019, in the case of <em>Zhou et al. v. Vusal<\/em>, China submitted a request to Azerbaijan for judgment recognition and enforcement, accompanied by a diplomatic note expressing its reciprocal commitment. As defined in the Conference Summary, this refers to a diplomatic promise\u2014either made by a foreign country to China or by China to a foreign country\u2014to recognize and enforce judgments, provided there is no evidence that the other country has refused to enforce Chinese judgments due to a lack of reciprocity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What basic criteria does a foreign judgment have to satisfy before it can be enforced in your jurisdiction? Is it limited to money judgments or does it extend to other forms of relief?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Under Chinese general law, a foreign judgment sought to be recognized and enforced has to satisfy the following basic criteria:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 0\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">It must concern substantive issues, whether it involves monetary or non-monetary relief. Moreover, the term \u201cjudgments\u201d is broadly defined\u2014it is not limited to judgments, but may also include rulings, decisions, and orders made on substantive matters. However, preservation orders and other provisional or procedural rulings are excluded.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">It must be final and conclusive, and not subject to appeal.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">It must be legally effective in the originating jurisdiction.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">It must be rendered by a foreign court, but the term \u201ccourt\u201d is not limited to judicial institutions named as such. Whether the adjudicating body qualifies as a court is determined according to the laws of the foreign country.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">It must be civil or commercial in nature. Criminal and administrative law judgments are considered public in nature and are generally not recognized or enforced in China or other jurisdictions. However, the civil claim in a criminal judgment with an incidental civil component may be eligible for recognition and enforcement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is the procedure for enforcement of foreign judgments pursuant to such conventions, treaties or arrangements in your jurisdiction?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Not applicable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">If applicable, what is the procedure for enforcement of foreign judgments under the general law in your jurisdiction?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Under Chinese general law, recognition and enforcement are two separate proceedings, handled by different divisions within the same court. Notably, a foreign judgment cannot be enforced until it has first been recognized.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The judgment creditor must file an application with the competent Chinese intermediate court requesting a ruling that the foreign judgment be recognized and enforced in China. Once recognition is granted, the enforcement bureau of that court will issue a writ of execution to enforce the judgment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The jurisdiction of the competent intermediate court is determined based on the defendant\u2019s place of residence or location of assets. Additionally, the Conference Summary introduces an ex-ante internal approval mechanism, requiring cases reviewed on the basis of reciprocity to be reported level-by-level to the SPC for approval before a ruling is issued.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What, if any, formal requirements do the courts of your jurisdiction impose upon foreign judgments before they can be enforced? For example, must the judgment be apostilled?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Foreign judgments must be apostilled by the competent authority in the country of origin; accordingly, they are exempt from consular authentication, as the Apostille Convention has entered into force in China. However, judgments from non-signatory states still require consular authentication.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">In addition, Chinese courts require a Chinese translation of the foreign judgment, which must be certified by a translation institution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">How long does it usually take to enforce or register a foreign judgment in your jurisdiction? Is there a summary procedure available?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">There are no summary proceedings available for the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in China.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The timing of the recognition process for a foreign judgment depends on several case-specific factors: the nature of the foreign judgment, the determination of reciprocal relationships in the absence of a bilateral treaty, the availability and strength of any non-recognition defenses, the existence of a reconsideration process, among other relevant factors.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The duration of the enforcement process typically ranges from a few months to over a year, depending on the liquidity of the judgment debtor\u2019s assets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Is it possible to obtain interim relief (e.g. an injunction to restrain disposal of assets) while the enforcement or registration procedure takes place?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Property preservation (a form of interim relief) is available once a Chinese court accepts an application for recognition and enforcement of a foreign judgment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">The court may handle the request according to the Civil Procedure Law and related judicial interpretations. However, the applicant is required to provide a guarantee (such as a bond or security). If the applicant fails to do so, the court will reject the preservation application.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What is the limitation period for enforcing a foreign judgment in your jurisdiction?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">The limitation period for enforcing a foreign judgment is two years from the date the foreign judgment becomes enforceable, or from the final date of performance specified in the judgment (Article 250 of the Civil Procedure Law). After that period, the claim is time-barred.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">On what grounds can the enforcement of foreign judgments be challenged in your jurisdiction?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Under Chinese general law, it is possible to challenge the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments on the following grounds (Articles 299 and 300 of the Civil Procedure Law):<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 0\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">There is no bilateral treaty or reciprocal relationship established between China and the foreign state;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The foreign court that renders the judgment has no jurisdiction over the case;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The Chinese court has already made a judgment on the same dispute, or has recognized or enforced a foreign judgment from a third country or an arbitral award for the same dispute;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The defendant has not been duly summoned or has not been given a reasonable opportunity to present their case. Additionally, a party lacking capacity to act was not properly represented;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The judgment is obtained by fraud;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The judgment violates fundamental principles of PRC law or the sovereignty, security, and public interests of the state. However, courts tend to define \u201cpublic policy\u201d narrowly, focusing on serious infringements;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The judgment is not final or is subject to appeal;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">Other procedural grounds include the two-year limitation period and the lack of jurisdiction of the competent Chinese court, as described above.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Will the courts in your jurisdiction reconsider the merits of the judgment to be enforced?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Chinese courts typically do not reconsider the merits of the foreign judgment. Instead, the review is generally limited to procedural issues (such as jurisdiction and finality) and public policy concerns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Will the courts in your jurisdiction examine whether the foreign court had jurisdiction over the defendant? If so, what criteria will they apply to this?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Chinese courts will examine whether the foreign court had jurisdiction over the defendant.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Specifically, pursuant to Article 301 of the Civil Procedure Law, the foreign court will be deemed to lack jurisdiction if:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 0\">\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The foreign court has no jurisdiction over the case according to its own law, or even if it does, there is no appropriate connection between the dispute and the forum. In such cases, long-arm jurisdiction with a tenuous basis may be disregarded;<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The provisions on the exclusive jurisdiction of Chinese courts over the claim are violated; or<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: justify\">The parties\u2019 exclusive forum selection agreement is not honored.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Do the courts in your jurisdiction impose any requirements on the way in which the defendant was served with the proceedings? Can foreign judgments in default be enforced?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Yes. A judgment will not be recognized or enforced in China if the defendant was not duly summoned or, although served, was not given a reasonable opportunity to present their case.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Default judgments may be enforceable; however, the applicant must provide proof that the foreign court duly summoned the defendant\u2014unless the judgment itself explicitly confirms this.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Do the courts in your jurisdiction have a discretion over whether or not to recognise foreign judgments?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Chinese courts are generally bound by applicable laws and have no discretion over whether or not to recognize foreign judgments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are there any types of foreign judgment which cannot be enforced in your jurisdiction? For example can foreign judgments for punitive or multiple damages be enforced?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Foreign judgments that are not compatible with the basic principles of PRC law, or that damage the sovereignty, security, and public interests of the state, cannot be enforced.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Punitive damages are typically in violation of a fundamental principle\u2014namely, the compensatory principle. If the awarded damages are punitive in nature and manifestly excessive in comparison to the actual loss suffered, courts will not recognize or enforce the excessive portion (Article 45 of the Conference Summary).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Can enforcement procedures be started in your jurisdiction if there is a pending appeal in the foreign jurisdiction?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Under Chinese general law, the foreign judgment to be enforced in China must be final and conclusive. Otherwise, recognition and enforcement will be denied.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Can you appeal a decision recognising or enforcing a foreign judgment in your jurisdiction?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">A party may, within ten days of receiving the ruling (whether granted or denied), file a request for reconsideration with the next higher court (Article 303 of the Civil Procedure Law).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Can interest be claimed on the judgment sum in your jurisdiction? If so on what basis and at what rate?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">According to Chinese law, applicants may request payment of interest on the amount due, at a legally prescribed daily rate of 0.0175% if the judgment debtor fails to pay within the period specified in the judgment. Once the foreign judgment is declared enforceable in China, the Chinese court will issue a writ of execution and serve the defendant with a notice of enforcement, which informs the defendant of the obligation to pay such interest. However, for foreign judgments or foreign arbitral awards, the period of delay starts to run from the date of the ruling recognizing the judgment, not from the date the unpaid debt originally became due and payable (see (2022) Min 07 Zhi Fu No. 91).<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Do the courts of your jurisdiction require a foreign judgment to be converted into local currency for the purposes of enforcement?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">There is no requirement to convert foreign currency claims at the time of applying for enforcement, whether the judgment is domestic or foreign. However, since most Chinese courts do not hold foreign currency bank accounts, the conversion into renminbi (\u201cRMB\u201d) typically occurs when the judgment debtor\u2019s foreign currency deposits are transferred into the court\u2019s account.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Can the costs of enforcement (e.g. court costs, as well as the parties\u2019 costs of instructing lawyers and other professionals) be recovered from the judgment debtor in your jurisdiction?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Court costs can be recovered from the judgment debtor. These include the acceptance fee, preservation fee, enforcement fee, and expenses incurred by third parties appointed by the court, such as asset valuation and auction fees, which may be paid out of the proceeds of enforcement. However, the applicants\u2019 costs of instructing lawyers and other professionals are generally not recoverable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Are third parties allowed to fund enforcement action in your jurisdiction? If so, are there any restrictions on this and can third party funders be made liable for the costs incurred by the other side?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">Third-party litigation funding in China lacks a regulatory framework or specific rules. However, this absence of regulation does not necessarily imply that the practice is permitted. In fact, two domestic cases have found litigation funding agreements invalid for violating the public interest and consequently rejected the third party\u2019s claims for payment under the agreement (see (2020) Hu 0106 Min Chu No. 2583 and (2023) Yue 18 Min Zhong No. 1259).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">In practice, the third party is not considered a party to the proceedings and therefore cannot be held liable for costs incurred. Only a party to the proceedings may be held liable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">What do you think will be the most significant developments in the enforcement process in your jurisdiction in the next 5 years?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">There is no indication that China will conclude any new conventions or additional bilateral treaties in the near future, although such instruments remain the most straightforward and comprehensive solutions for advancing the enforcement of foreign judgments.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">However, in the absence of a treaty, Chinese courts are increasingly adopting a more flexible interpretation of the principle of reciprocity. The Conference Summary clarifies the criteria for determining the existence of reciprocal relationships, reflecting an evolution from the <em>de facto<\/em> reciprocity test to <em>de jure<\/em> reciprocity, reciprocal understanding or consensus, and reciprocal commitment. Notably, in June 2024, a Chinese court enforced a Thai monetary judgment, affirming \u201cpresumptive reciprocity\u201d as outlined in the 2017 Nanning Statement between China and ASEAN countries.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">This liberalized approach is further reflected in the SPC\u2019s efforts to promote the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. The SPC\u2019s 2024 Annual Work Report, delivered at the Third Session of the 14th National People\u2019s Congress, noted 319 recognized and enforced foreign judgments, marking an 11.2% increase year-on-year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Moreover, in November 2024, the SPC issued the <em>Spar<\/em> case as one of its Guiding Cases. While not binding as precedents in common law systems, Guiding Cases are highly influential in directing lower courts and legal practitioners when handling similar matters.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Until formal treaties are concluded\u2014which can be time-consuming and costly\u2014instruments such as the Conference Summary, the 2017 Nanning Statement, and the China\u2013Singapore MoG, along with relevant cases, are expected to play an increasingly important role in facilitating enforcement. These developments indicate a broader trend toward greater openness, consistency, and predictability in China\u2019s approach to the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Has your country ratified the Hague Choice of Courts Convention 2005, and if so when did it (or will it) come into force? If not, do you expect it to in the foreseeable future?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">China signed the <em>Choice of Court Convention<\/em> in 2017, but has not yet ratified it. There is no indication that China will do so in the near future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"question-block filter-container__element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"filter-container__match-html\">Has your country ratified the Hague Judgments Convention 2019, and if so when did it (or will it) come into force? If not, do you expect it to in the foreseeable future?<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button id=\"show-me\">+<\/button>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"question_answer filter-container__match-html\" style=\"display:none;\"><p style=\"text-align: justify\">China participated in the negotiations of the Hague Judgments Convention 2019, but has not yet signed or ratified it. There is no indication that China will do so in the near future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n<div class=\"word-count-hidden\" style=\"display:none;\">Estimated word count: <span class=\"word-count\">3628<\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/ol>\r\n\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/twentyseventeen\/src\/jquery\/components\/filter-guides.js\" async><\/script><\/div>"}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide\/110894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comparative_guide"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/comparative_guide"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.legal500.com\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=110894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}