The Interim Methods for Trial Establishment of Chinese-Foreign Joint-Ventured Foreign Trade Companies promulgated in 1996 set rigid requirements on the investment by foreign investors, providing that foreign companies shall pay the contributions to the registered capital of joint-ventured companies in convertible currencies, i.e. they can only pay the contributions to the registered capital in cash, and that Chinese companies may make investment in RMB, in kinds, in intangible assets or other property rights.

The Interim Methods for Establishment of Chinese-Foreign Joint-Ventured Foreign Trade Companies provides that both foreign and Chinese investors may make their investment in cash, in kinds and in intangible assets (including industrial property rights, proprietary technologies and rights to use sites), etc. Restrictions on foreign investors' investment are relaxed so that they can make their investment in the same ways for the Chinese investors.