This book, first published in 1988, examines the nature of trade agreements with Chinese companies, and is divided into three parts which are arranged in accordance with the stages of development: from a trade talk to the final stage of a contract. At the time, China trade was mainly a kind of trade involving China traders and respective Chinese authorities, as Chinese businessmen were government officials. For this reason, paperwork such as the Memorandum of Discussion and Letter of Intent, while of no legal binding effect, were of vital importance to the trade system.

This book, first published in 1988, is a comprehensive reference of the laws and practice relating to trade between China and the rest of the world, at a time when the country had only recently opened its markets to foreigners. It shows how China wished to develop foreign trade, the methods it used to do this, and the means by which it attempted to control foreign access at the same time as moving to an increasing openness.