Foreign Relations Law of the PRC — Full English Translation (2023)

Adopted at the 3rd Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress on June 28, 2023

Effective: July 1, 2023

Table of Contents

Chapter I — General Provisions

Article 1 — This Law is enacted in accordance with the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China for the purposes of developing foreign relations, safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests, protecting the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons overseas, promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and advancing the sound and stable development of the international order.

Article 2 — This Law applies to the foreign relations activities conducted by the People’s Republic of China.

For the purposes of this Law, “foreign relations activities” mean the diplomatic, economic, trade, cultural, military, and other such activities and exchanges conducted between the People’s Republic of China and foreign states, international organizations, and other international actors.

Article 3 — The People’s Republic of China adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace and to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, namely mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

Article 4 — In conducting foreign relations, the People’s Republic of China shall:

(1) Safeguard national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity;

(2) Uphold and develop the socialist system with Chinese characteristics;

(3) Safeguard China’s security interests and development interests; and

(4) Promote exchanges and cooperation with other countries in the political, economic, cultural, and other fields.

Article 5 — The People’s Republic of China opposes all forms of hegemonism and power politics, opposes the unilateralism and protectionism of any country, opposes the interference of any country in the internal affairs of other countries, and opposes any country’s use or threat of use of force in international relations.

Article 6 — The People’s Republic of China adheres to the principle of the rule of law, and promotes the rule of law at the international level. The People’s Republic of China shall fulfill its obligations in good faith under the treaties and agreements to which it is a party.

The provisions of international treaties and agreements to which the People’s Republic of China is a party shall not be directly invoked within the territory of the People’s Republic of China, unless otherwise provided for by laws or regulations.

Article 7 — The People’s Republic of China adheres to the concept of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, upholds the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Article 8 — The People’s Republic of China adheres to the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom for all mankind, promotes the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and safeguards world peace and development.

Chapter II — Functions and Powers in Foreign Relations

Article 9 — The National People’s Congress and its Standing Committee exercise the functions and powers in foreign relations prescribed by the Constitution and laws.

The National People’s Congress has the authority to decide on issues of war and peace and to ratify treaties and important agreements.

The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress has the authority to decide on the ratification and abrogation of treaties and important agreements, to decide on the declaration of a state of war, and to exercise other functions and powers in foreign relations prescribed by the Constitution and laws.

Article 10 — The President of the People’s Republic of China, on behalf of the People’s Republic of China, conducts state activities and exercises the functions and powers in foreign relations prescribed by the Constitution and laws.

Article 11 — The State Council administers foreign affairs and exercises the functions and powers in foreign relations prescribed by the Constitution and laws. The State Council concludes treaties and agreements with foreign states.

Article 12 — The Central Military Commission organizes and carries out international military exchanges and cooperation, and exercises the functions and powers in foreign relations prescribed by the Constitution and laws.

Article 13 — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other central state organs shall, in accordance with the division of duties, conduct foreign relations activities. Local people’s congresses and local people’s governments at various levels shall conduct foreign relations activities within the scope of their respective functions and powers in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations.

Chapter III — Objectives and Tasks of Foreign Relations

Article 14 — The objectives of the foreign relations of the People’s Republic of China are to safeguard world peace and promote common development, and to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Article 15 — The tasks of the foreign relations of the People’s Republic of China include:

(1) Developing friendly relations and cooperation with other countries in the political, economic, trade, scientific and technological, cultural, educational, health, sports, and other fields;

(2) Participating in the activities of international organizations, and supporting their positive role in international affairs;

(3) Participating in the formulation of international rules, and promoting the development of the international legal system in a direction that is fairer and more equitable;

(4) Safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons overseas, and providing consular protection and assistance;

(5) Promoting international cooperation in jointly addressing global challenges in areas such as climate change, public health, food security, energy security, and cybersecurity; and

(6) Conducting other foreign relations activities conducive to safeguarding national interests and promoting world peace and development.

Article 16 — The People’s Republic of China adheres to the principle of sovereign equality. Countries, irrespective of their size, strength, or wealth, are equal members of the international community.

Article 17 — The People’s Republic of China respects the right of the people of other countries to independently choose their own development path, and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

Article 18 — The People’s Republic of China safeguards the international system and mechanism of arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation, and opposes any form of arms race.

Article 19 — The People’s Republic of China adheres to the principle of settling international disputes by peaceful means.

Article 20 — The People’s Republic of China safeguards the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, opposes unilateralism and protectionism, and promotes the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment.

Article 21 — The People’s Republic of China adheres to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits in global governance, and actively participates in the reform and development of the global governance system.

Chapter IV — Institutional Framework for Foreign Relations

Article 22 — The People’s Republic of China establishes and develops diplomatic relations and consular relations with other countries in accordance with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

Article 23 — Diplomatic missions of the People’s Republic of China abroad and consular posts of the People’s Republic of China abroad represent the State in safeguarding the interests of the State and protecting the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons in the receiving states.

Article 24 — The People’s Republic of China establishes permanent missions to international organizations in accordance with the needs of international cooperation and the provisions of treaties and agreements.

Article 25 — The People’s Republic of China grants privileges and immunities to foreign diplomatic missions and consular posts in China and their members, as well as to permanent missions of international organizations in China and their members, in accordance with the provisions of laws and treaties and agreements to which China is a party.

Article 26 — The People’s Republic of China shall, in accordance with laws and regulations and the needs of foreign relations, honor the obligations and exercise the rights of the host state in respect of international organizations and international conferences held within the territory of China.

Article 27 — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China exercises unified leadership and coordination over diplomatic work. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions and consular posts abroad shall provide consular protection and assistance to Chinese citizens and legal persons overseas in accordance with the law.

Article 28 — The People’s Republic of China shall, in accordance with the law and actual circumstances, adopt appropriate measures to strengthen the capacity for consular protection and assistance, so as to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons overseas.

Chapter V — Guarantees for Foreign Relations

Article 29 — The State shall strengthen the construction of the rule of law in foreign-related fields, and improve the foreign-related legal and regulatory system.

Article 30 — The State shall strengthen the building of the capacity of state organs and their staff engaged in foreign relations work, so as to improve the capacity for handling foreign affairs.

Article 31 — The State shall strengthen the training of personnel for foreign-related work and build a high-quality professional team for foreign-related work.

Article 32 — The State shall adopt measures to strengthen the capacity for safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons overseas, and to establish and improve the mechanism for consular protection and assistance.

Article 33 — Chinese citizens and legal persons shall abide by the laws of the receiving states and respect local customs and culture when conducting activities overseas. Chinese citizens and legal persons who encounter circumstances endangering their personal and property safety overseas may apply for consular protection and assistance from Chinese diplomatic missions and consular posts abroad in accordance with the law.

Article 34 — The State shall strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in the field of law, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind in the field of the rule of law.

Article 35 — The State shall strengthen publicity and education on foreign-related laws and regulations, and enhance the awareness and capacity of the whole society in handling foreign-related matters in accordance with the law.

Chapter VI — Supplementary Provisions

Article 36 — Where the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region conduct foreign relations activities, the provisions of the law shall be determined by the National People’s Congress.

Article 37 — Where the provisions of any other law conflict with the provisions of this Law, the provisions of this Law shall prevail.

Article 38 — This Law shall be interpreted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

Article 39 — The enactment, amendment, and repeal of laws in the field of foreign relations shall comply with the basic principles of this Law.

Article 40 — This Law shall come into force on July 1, 2023.