Article 2 These Regulations shall apply to the establishment of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises within the territory of the People’s Republic of China， the application for construction and engineering design enterprise qualifications and the administration and supervision of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises.

The term ‘foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise’ mentioned in these Regulations refers to a wholly foreign-owned construction and engineering design enterprise， or a Sino-foreign equity construction and engineering design joint venture or a Sino-foreign cooperatively construction and engineering design enterprise established within the territory of the People’s Republic of China in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations.

Article 3 A foreign investor， which intends to establish a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise within the territory of the People’s Republic of China and carry out construction and engineering design business shall， in accordance with laws， obtain the foreign-invested enterprise approval certificate from the relevant foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department and register with the State Administration of Industry and Commerce or its authorised administration of industry and commerce at local levels， and also obtain the qualification certificate of construction and engineering design enterprise from the relevant construction administration department.

Article 4 Foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises shall abide by the laws， regulations and rules of the People’s Republic of China when carrying out construction and engineering design activities within the territory of the People’s Republic of China.

The lawful operation of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises and their legal rights and interests within the territory of the People’s Republic of China shall be protected by Chinese laws， regulations and rules.

Article 5 The foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council shall be responsible for the administration of establishing foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises. The construction administration department of the State Council shall be responsible for the administration of the qualifications of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises.

The foreign trade and economic cooperation administration departments of the people’s government of provinces， autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities shall be responsible for the administration of establishment of foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises within their authorized jurisdiction ； the construction administration departments of the people’s government of provinces， autonomous regions or directly administered municipalities shall， in accordance with these regulations， be responsible for the administration of the qualifications of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprises within their administrative region.

Article 6 The application for and the examination and approval of the establishment of a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise and the qualifications shall be managed by a grading and categorization system.

Where an applicant is to apply for Grade A qualifications for construction and engineering design or other Grade A or Grade B qualifications for construction and engineering design， the establishment of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall be examined and approved by the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the State Council and its qualifications shall be examined and approved by the construction administration department of the State Council. Where an applicant is to apply for Grade B qualifications for construction and engineering design or other Grade C or lower qualifications for construction and engineering design， the establishment of the foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise shall be examined and approved by the foreign trade and economic cooperation administration department of the people’s government of the province， the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality and its qualifications shall be examined and approved by the construction administration department of the people’s government of the province， the autonomous region or the directly administered municipality.

Article 7 The procedures for the establishment of a foreign-invested construction and engineering design enterprise and the application for construction and engineering design qualifications or other Grade A or B engineering design qualifications shall be：