Introduction 1
1.1. The Horizontal Convergence Approach 5
1.2. Vertical Convergence Approach 6
Chapter 1 A Brief History of Private Law in China and Europe 9
1.1. A Short History of Civil Law Development in China 9
1.1.1. Confucianism and the History of Chinese Civil Law before the Twentieth Century 10
1.1.2. The First Draft Civil Code 13
1.1.3. The First Implemented Civil Code 15
1.1.4. The Development of the Civil Law in the Maoist Period 16
1.1.5. The Development of Contract Law in the 1980s 16
1.1.6. The New Uniform Contract Law 18
1.1.7. Chinese Property Law 20
1.1.8. Chinese Tort Law 21
1.1.9. Chinese Civil Code 21
1.1.10. Conclusion 22
1.2. The Convergence of European Contract Law 23
1.2.1. Academic Reasons 30
1.2.2. Political Reasons 31
1.2.3. Legal Reasons 32
1.2.4. Economic Reasons 33
1.2.5. Conclusion 34
1.3. Comparative Conclusion 34
Chapter 2 Fundamental Principles of Modern Contract Laws 37
2.1. Fundamental Principles of Chinese Contract Law 37
2.1.1. Voluntariness 39
2.1.2. Socioeconomic Valuation 42
2.1.2.1. Traditional Social Ethics 43
2.1.2.1.1. Fairness 43
2.1.2.1.2. Good Faith 44
2.1.2.1.3. Public Interest 47
2.1.2.2. Current Economic Situation 50
2.1.2.2.1. Equality 50
2.1.2.2.2. Promotion Business Transactions 51
2.2. Fundamental Principles of European Contract Law 53
2.2.1. Freedom of Contract 54
2.2.2. Good Faith 61
2.2.3. Fair Dealing 64
2.3. Comparative Conclusion 66
Chapter 3 Comparison of Several Doctrines 69
3.1. Interpretation 69
3.1.1. European Contract Law 70
3.1.1.1. Common Intention 72
3.1.1.2. Relevant Matters 74
3.1.1.3. Contra proferentem Rule 75
3.1.1.4. Legal-Effect Preference to the Individually Negotiated Terms 76
3.1.1.5. Reference to Contract as a Whole 77
3.1.1.6. Terms to Be Given Effect 77
3.1.1.7. Linguistic Discrepancies 78
3.1.2. Chinese Contract Law 78
3.1.2.1. True Meaning 79
3.1.2.2. Purpose of Contract 81
3.1.2.3. Contra proferentem Rule 82
3.1.3. Comparison 82
3.1.3.1. Common Intention versus True Meaning 82
3.1.3.2. Relevant Circumstances 83
3.1.3.3. Contra proferentem Rule 83
3.1.3.4. Linguistic Discrepancies 84
3.2. Pre-contractual Liability 84
3.2.1. European Contract Law 85
3.2.1.1. Information Duty 86
3.2.1.2. Negotiation in Accordance with Good Faith and Fair Dealing 87
3.2.1.3. Duty of Confidentiality 89
3.2.2. Chinese Contract Law 89
3.2.2.1. Negotiating in Bad Faith under the Pretext of Concluding a Contract 90
3.2.2.2. Deliberately Concealing Important Facts Relating to the Conclusion of the Contract or Deliberately Providing False Information 90
3.2.2.3. Disclosing or Inappropriately Exploiting Business Secret 91
3.2.2.4. Other Activities Violating the Principle of Good Faith 91
3.2.3. Comparison 92
3.3. Contract Validity 93
3.3.1. Mistake 94
3.3.1.1. European Contract Law 95
3.3.1.1.1. Mistake Must Make the Contract Fundamentally Different 95
3.3.1.1.2. Causes for Mistake 95
3.3.1.1.3. Remedies and Effects 96
3.3.1.1.4. Relief 97
3.3.1.2. Chinese Contract Law 97
3.3.1.2.1. Misunderstanding Must Be Significant 98
3.3.1.2.2. Causes of Significant Misunderstanding 98
3.3.1.2.3. Remedies and Effects 99
3.3.1.3. Comparison 100
3.3.1.3.1. Coverage 100
3.3.1.3.2. Element 100
3.3.1.3.3. Remedies and Effects 100
3.3.1.3.4. Relief 101
3.3.2. Fraud 101
3.3.2.1. European Contract Law 102
3.3.2.1.1. Dishonesty 102
3.3.2.1.2. Reliance 103
3.3.2.1.3. Remedies 103
3.3.2.2. Chinese Contract Law 103
3.3.2.2.1. Intent to Deceive 104
3.3.2.2.2. Conduct of Deceives 104
3.3.2.2.3. Reliance 104
3.3.2.2.4. Mistaken Manifestation 104
3.3.2.2.5. Remedies 105
3.3.2.3. Comparison 105
3.3.3. Threats 106
3.3.3.1. European Contract Law 106
3.3.3.1.1. Imminent and Serious 106
3.3.3.1.2. Wrongful by Itself or Should Be Wrongly Used 107
3.3.3.1.3. Lead to the Conclusion of the Contract 107
3.3.3.1.4. Coerced Party Should Not Have Any Other Reasonable Alternatives 107
3.3.3.2. Chinese Contract Law 108
3.3.3.3. Comparison 109
3.3.4. lmbalanced Bargaining 109
3.3.4.1. European Contract Law 110
3.3.4.2. Chinese Contract Law 112
3.3.4.3. Comparison 114
3.3.5. Conclusion 114
3.4. Adaptation 116
3.4.1. European Contract Law 117
3.4.1.1. Mistake 117
3.4.1.2. Excessive Benefit or Unfair Advantage 118
3.4.1.3. Change of Circumstances 118
3.4.2. Chinese Contract Law 120
3.4.3. Comparison 123
3.5. Termination 124
3.5. 1. European Contract Law 125
3.5.1.1. Grounds to Terminate the Contract 125
3.5.1.1.1. Fundamental Non-performance 125
3.5.1.1.2. Delayed Performance 127
3.5.1.1.3. Anticipatory Non-performance 127
3.5.1.1.4. Inadequate Assurance of Performance 128
3.5.1.2. Notice 129
3.5.1.3. Effects of Termination 130
3.5.2. Chinese Contract Law 131
3.5.2.1. Termination by Agreement 132
3.5.2.2. Statutory Rights of Termination 133
3.5.2.2.1. Force Majeure 133
3.5.2.2.2. Anticipatory Repudiation 134
3.5.2.2.3. Unreasonable Delay 134
3.5.2.2.4. Frustration of Contract Purpose 135
3.5.2.3. Notice 135
3.5.2.4. Effect of Termination 136
3.5.2.4.1. Release from Performance 137
3.5.2.4.2. Restitution 137
3.5.2.4.3. Damages 138
3.5.3. Comparison 139
3.6. Mandatory Rules 139
3.6.1. European Contract Law 140
3.6.1.1. Sources of Mandatory Rules 141
3.6.1.1.1. Fundamental Principles 141
3.6.1.1.2. Mandatory Rules 142
3.6.1.2. Effects of Contracts Infringing Fundamental Principles or Mandatory Rules 143
3.6.1.2.1. Purpose of the Rule 144
3.6.1.2.2. Category of Persons for Whose Protection the Rule Exists 144
3.6.1.2.3. Any Sanction that May Be Imposed under the Rule Infringed 145
3.6.1.2.4. Seriousness of the Infringement 145
3.6.1.2.5. Where the Infringement was Intentional 145
3.6.1.2.6. Relationship between the Infringement and the Contract 145
3.6.2. Chinese Contract Law 146
3.6.2.1. Sources of Mandatory Rules 146
3.6.2.1.1. Laws 146
3.6.2.1.2. Administrative Regulations 147
3.6.2.1.3. Authoritative Interpretation 149
3.6.2.1.4. State Plan 151
3.6.2.1.5. International Treaties 151
3.6.2.2. Effects of Contracts Infringing Mandatory Rules 151
3.6.3. Comparison 152
3.7. Constitutionalization of Contract Law 152
3.7.1. European Contract Law 153
3.7.1.1. Fundamental Rights 153
3.7.1.1.1. Interpretation of Rules 158
3.7.1.1.2. Non-discrimination 159
3.7.1.1.3. Validity of Contract 160
3.7.1.2. Social Justice 160
3.7.1.2. 1. Definition of Consumer 162
3.7.1.2.2. Extension of Weak Party Protections 162
3.7.2. Chinese Contract Law 163
3.7.3. Comparison 166
Conclusion 169
Bibliography 175
Index 185