Summary

It is my great pleasure to introduce The Legal Environment and Risks for Foreign Investment in China by Shoushuang Li, a star young lawyer in Beijing. Mr. Li has a wealth of experience in foreign investment law and joint ventures, which he brings to bear in his analysis of this dynamic and critical field. China's investment climate continues to evolve. Less than thirty years after the introduction of market reforms, China has become one of the world's most attr- tive investment locations. The legal system has developed a good deal, although there are still plenty of pitfalls that await investors who are not sufficiently careful. Foreign observers of the legal system remain divided as to whether the proverbial glass is half full, or rather half empty--some believe that China's efforts to - velop the rule of law have already born fruit while others are more skeptical. Li's strength is to combine the specific details of the various regimes governing investment in China with a broader perspective on risk management. He begins with an introduction to general issues related to foreign investment, tax law, land use right and labor law. These are likely to be of concern to investors in a wide array of fields. He then goes on to provide a wealth of detail on particular sectors of education, water, and insurance.