MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON COOPERATION BETWEEN THE SUPREME PEOPLE'S COURT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE SUPREME COURT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE ON INFORMATION ON FOREIGN LAW
中華人民共和國(guó)最高人民法院與新加坡共和國(guó)最高法院關(guān)于法律查明問題的合作諒解備忘錄
The Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China and the Supreme Court of the Republic of Singapore (each referred to as a “Participant”, and collectively referred to as the “Participants”),
中華人民共和國(guó)最高人民法院與新加坡共和國(guó)最高法院（單稱“參與方”，合稱“各參與方”）：
With a view to promoting the ties of friendship between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Singapore, jointly advancing the “Belt and Road” Initiative and further strengthening pragmatic cooperation in the judicial sector between the two States,
為促進(jìn)中華人民共和國(guó)和新加坡共和國(guó)友好關(guān)系發(fā)展，共同推進(jìn)“一帶一路”建設(shè)，進(jìn)一步密切兩國(guó)司法領(lǐng)域的務(wù)實(shí)合作；
For the purpose of providing convenience to courts of both States to determine questions of law of the other State in international civil and commercial cases, enhancing the accuracy and authority of information on foreign laws, and improving efficiency of judicial adjudication,
為兩國(guó)法院在國(guó)際民商事案件中查明對(duì)方法律提供便利，增強(qiáng)外國(guó)法查明的準(zhǔn)確性和權(quán)威性，提高司法審判效率；
Mutually agree to strengthen bilateral cooperation on information on foreign law in international civil and commercial cases, and have made and entered into the following Memorandum of Understanding (the "MOU"):
雙方就加強(qiáng)國(guó)際民商事案件外國(guó)法查明的雙邊合作達(dá)成共識(shí)并擬定以下諒解備忘錄（以下簡(jiǎn)稱“備忘錄”）：
Article I Scope of application
第一條 適用范圍
If it is necessary for courts in the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Singapore to apply the law of the other State in adjudicating international civil and commercial cases, a request may be made to the Participant in the other State to provide information and opinions on its domestic law and judicial practice in civil and commercial matters, or matters relating thereto, in accordance with this MOU.
當(dāng)中華人民共和國(guó)和新加坡共和國(guó)的法院在審理國(guó)際民商事案件中需要適用對(duì)方國(guó)家的法律時(shí)，各參與方可以依據(jù)本備忘錄請(qǐng)求對(duì)方針對(duì)其民事和商事的國(guó)內(nèi)法和司法實(shí)踐或相關(guān)事項(xiàng)，提供信息和意見。
Article II Authorities entitled to make a request
第二條 有權(quán)提出請(qǐng)求的機(jī)構(gòu)
A request for information and opinions will always emanate from a court determining questions of law (“Requesting Court”). The request may only be made in connection with ongoing civil or commercial proceedings.
提供信息和意見的請(qǐng)求將由雙方有法律查明需求的法院提出（“請(qǐng)求法院”）。該請(qǐng)求只能就正在進(jìn)行的民事或商事訴訟提出。
Article III Contents of a request
第三條 請(qǐng)求書的內(nèi)容
A request for information and opinions will include:
提供信息和意見的請(qǐng)求書將包括：
1.The name of the Requesting Court;
1. 請(qǐng)求法院的名稱；
2.The nature of the case for which the request is filed;
2. 提出請(qǐng)求案件的性質(zhì)；
3. The specific legal matters requested;
3. 請(qǐng)求的具體法律事項(xiàng)；
4. The facts, assumptions, and other auxiliary information upon which the reply to the request is to be determined.
4. 對(duì)請(qǐng)求作出答復(fù)所需要的事實(shí)、假設(shè)和其它輔助性信息。
The request will not specifically identify the parties or the proceedings to which they are party.
提出請(qǐng)求時(shí)，不具體指明訴訟當(dāng)事方或其作為當(dāng)事方的訴訟。
Article IV Transmission of a request
第四條 請(qǐng)求的傳遞
Requests from the courts of the People's Republic of China will be transmitted through the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Singapore; and requests from the courts of the Republic of Singapore will be transmitted through the Supreme Court of the Republic of Singapore to the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China. For the purposes of this MOU, the Participant transmitting a request for information and opinions will be referred to as the “Requesting Participant” while the Participant receiving the request will be referred to as the “Receiving Participant”.
來自中華人民共和國(guó)法院的請(qǐng)求由中華人民共和國(guó)最高人民法院向新加坡共和國(guó)最高法院傳遞，來自新加坡共和國(guó)法院的請(qǐng)求由新加坡共和國(guó)最高法院向中華人民共和國(guó)最高人民法院傳遞。就本備忘錄而言，遞交請(qǐng)求的參與方簡(jiǎn)稱“請(qǐng)求方”，收到請(qǐng)求的參與方簡(jiǎn)稱“接收方”。
Article V Receipt of and reply to a request
第五條 請(qǐng)求的接收和答復(fù)
The Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China is empowered to receive and respond to requests transmitted through or by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Singapore.
中華人民共和國(guó)最高人民法院負(fù)責(zé)接收通過或由新加坡共和國(guó)最高法院傳遞的請(qǐng)求并進(jìn)行答復(fù)。
The Supreme Court of the Republic of Singapore is empowered to receive and respond to requests transmitted through or by the Supreme People’s Court of the People's Republic of China.
新加坡共和國(guó)最高法院負(fù)責(zé)接收通過或由中華人民共和國(guó)最高人民法院傳遞的請(qǐng)求并進(jìn)行答復(fù)。
Article VI Contents of the reply
第六條 答復(fù)的內(nèi)容
The Receiving Participant will provide information and opinions to the Requesting Participant in an objective and impartial manner. The reply will contain, as appropriate, relevant information adequately addressing each aspect of the request where possible. It will be accompanied, to the extent deemed necessary for the proper understanding of the information, by any additional documents, including but not limited to, legal texts, relevant judicial precedents, judicial decisions, judicial interpretations, and court orders.
接收方將以客觀公正的方式向請(qǐng)求方提供信息和意見。在適當(dāng)?shù)那闆r下，答復(fù)將盡可能充分地對(duì)請(qǐng)求中包含的各項(xiàng)請(qǐng)求逐一回應(yīng)，必要時(shí)可附正確理解信息所必需的任何其他文件，包括但不限于法律文本、相關(guān)判例、司法裁決、司法解釋、法院指令等。
Article VII Transmission of a reply
第七條 答復(fù)的傳遞
The Participants will transmit their replies directly to each other in accordance with their respective procedures.
各參與方按照各自程序?qū)⒋饛?fù)直接提交給對(duì)方。
Article VIII Clarifications of information
第八條 信息的澄清
The Receiving Participant may request that the Requesting Participant provide further clarifications about the request. Such requests for clarifications will be transmitted to the Requesting Participant in accordance with Article IV of this MOU.
接收方可以要求請(qǐng)求方對(duì)請(qǐng)求作進(jìn)一步澄清，澄清請(qǐng)求將按照本備忘錄第四條的規(guī)定送交請(qǐng)求方。
Article IX Timeline for the reply
第九條 答復(fù)時(shí)間期限
The reply to a request for information and opinions will be furnished as promptly as possible. However, if the reply cannot be made within sixty days upon receipt of the request, the Receiving Participant will promptly notify the Requesting Participant.
接收方將盡快對(duì)提供信息和意見的請(qǐng)求作出答復(fù)。如在收到請(qǐng)求后六十日內(nèi)無法作出答復(fù)，接收方將及時(shí)通知請(qǐng)求方。
If the Receiving Participant requests the Requesting Participant to provide further clarifications, the reply to a request for clarifications will be furnished as promptly as possible. However, if the reply cannot be made within thirty days upon receipt of the request, the Requesting Participant will promptly notify the Receiving Participant.
如果接收方要求請(qǐng)求方對(duì)請(qǐng)求作進(jìn)一步澄清，請(qǐng)求方將盡快答復(fù)澄清請(qǐng)求。但是，如果在收到澄清請(qǐng)求后三十天內(nèi)不能作出答復(fù)，請(qǐng)求方將及時(shí)通知接收方。
Article X Effects of the reply
第十條 答復(fù)的效力
1. The information and opinions provided in the reply are for reference only and will not bind the Requesting Court in the determination of any question of law in any ongoing or future proceedings or in any other way. The Requesting Court may use the information and opinions provided in the reply in such manner as it thinks fit, in accordance with its domestic laws, practices and usages.
1. 答復(fù)所提供的信息和意見僅供參考使用，對(duì)請(qǐng)求法院在任何正在進(jìn)行或未來的訴訟中裁判任何法律問題或在其他方面都不具有約束力。請(qǐng)求法院可根據(jù)其國(guó)內(nèi)法、慣例和習(xí)慣，以其認(rèn)為適當(dāng)?shù)姆绞绞褂么饛?fù)中提供的信息和意見。
2.To avoid doubt:
2. 為避免疑義：
a.the Requesting Court will be entitled to make the reply obtained from the Receiving Participant available to the parties to the case for which the request was filed, and invite the parties to make submissions on the reply; and
a. 請(qǐng)求法院有權(quán)將接收方的答復(fù)提供給請(qǐng)求案件的當(dāng)事方，并請(qǐng)當(dāng)事方就答復(fù)作出陳詞；和
b. the Requesting Court, through the Requesting Participant, will be entitled to make further requests for information and opinions arising from the reply.
b. 請(qǐng)求法院有權(quán)通過請(qǐng)求方就答復(fù)提出要求提供進(jìn)一步信息和意見的請(qǐng)求。
3.The Receiving Participant will not be liable for the information and opinions provided.
3. 接收方不對(duì)所提供的信息和意見承擔(dān)責(zé)任。
Article XI Exceptions to the obligation to reply
第十一條 不予答復(fù)的情形
If the Receiving Participant considers that issuing a reply to the request may be prejudicial to its sovereignty, security or public interests, it may refuse the request but will promptly notify the Requesting Participant accordingly.
如果接收方認(rèn)為對(duì)提出的請(qǐng)求進(jìn)行答復(fù)可能危害本國(guó)國(guó)家主權(quán)、安全、社會(huì)公共利益的，可不予答復(fù)，并立即通知請(qǐng)求方。
Article XII Languages
第十二條 語言文字
1. The request and any annexes will be in the official language of the Receiving Participant or be accompanied by a translation into that language.
1. 請(qǐng)求及任何附件使用接收方的官方語言文字或附以該官方語言文字的譯本。
The reply and any annexes will be in the official language of the Receiving Participant and be accompanied by a translation into the official language of the Requesting Participant.
2. 答復(fù)及任何附件使用接收方的官方語言文字，并附以請(qǐng)求方官方語言文字的譯本。
3. For the purposes of sub-paragraphs 1 and 2 above, the official language of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China is the Chinese language, and the official language of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Singapore is the English language.
3. 就上文第1款和第2款而言，中華人民共和國(guó)最高人民法院的官方語言文字為中文，新加坡共和國(guó)最高法院的官方語言文字為英文。
Article XIII Liaison bodies
第十三條 聯(lián)絡(luò)部門
The Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China appoints the International Cooperation Department of the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme Court of the Republic of Singapore appoints the Registry of the Supreme Court, as liaison bodies under this MOU. Requests and replies between the Participants will be transmitted by these liaison bodies via specified email addresses or other agreed means.
中華人民共和國(guó)最高人民法院指定最高人民法院國(guó)際合作局，新加坡共和國(guó)最高法院指定最高法院注冊(cè)處為本備忘錄項(xiàng)下聯(lián)絡(luò)部門。各參與方的請(qǐng)求和答復(fù)將由該聯(lián)絡(luò)部門通過指定的電子郵箱或其它認(rèn)可的方式傳遞。
Article XIV Relations with other ways of proof of foreign laws
第十四條 與其它外國(guó)法查明方式的關(guān)系
This MOU will apply without prejudice to the rights of the courts of both States to determine questions of law of the other State by international conventions, bilateral treaties, domestic law or any other means in international civil and commercial proceedings.
本備忘錄的適用不妨礙兩國(guó)法院在審理國(guó)際民商事案件時(shí)通過國(guó)際公約、雙邊條約、國(guó)內(nèi)法律等其他方式查明對(duì)方國(guó)家的法律。
Article XV Dispute settlement
第十五條 爭(zhēng)端解決
Any disputes or differences which may arise from the interpretation or implementation of this MOU will be settled through friendly consultation based on mutual understanding and respect between the Participants, without reference to any third party, court, tribunal, or any other forum.
在解釋或執(zhí)行本備忘錄時(shí)如出現(xiàn)任何爭(zhēng)議或分歧，將在各參與方互相理解和尊重的基礎(chǔ)上通過友好協(xié)商解決，而不向任何第三方、法院、仲裁庭或任何其他審判機(jī)構(gòu)提出。
Article XVI Amendments
第十六條 修訂
This MOU may be amended at any time in writing by mutual consent of the Participants. Any amendment which has been agreed upon by the Participants will come into effect on such date as agreed by the Participants and will be considered an integral part of this MOU.
本備忘錄可在任何時(shí)候經(jīng)各參與方相互同意以書面形式修訂。各參與方同意的任何修訂將在各參與方同意的日期生效，并將視為本備忘錄不可分割的一部分。
Any amendment will not prejudice any request for information or opinions or any reply received thereto issued or received before, or up to, the date of such amendment.
任何修訂均不損害在該修訂日期之前或截至該修訂日期發(fā)出或收到的任何提供信息或意見的請(qǐng)求或收到的任何答復(fù)。
Article XVII Effectiveness and termination
第十七條 生效和終止
This MOU will come into effect on 3 April 2022. Either Participant may terminate this MOU upon written notice to the other Participant. This MOU will terminate six months after receipt of such written notice.
本備忘錄將于2022年4月3日生效。任何參與方可以書面通知另一參與方終止本備忘錄。在收到前述書面通知六個(gè)月后，本備忘錄終止。
This MOU does not constitute any treaty or law nor does it create any legally binding rights or obligations between the Participants under domestic or international law.
本備忘錄不構(gòu)成任何條約或法律，也不在參與方之間根據(jù)國(guó)內(nèi)法或國(guó)際法規(guī)定設(shè)立任何具有法律約束力的權(quán)利或義務(wù)。
This MOU is signed in two original copies, one being in Chinese and the other in English, both texts being equally valid, on December 3, 2021 in the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Singapore.
本備忘錄于2021年12月3日在中華人民共和國(guó)和新加坡共和國(guó)簽署，一式兩份，中英文正本各一份，兩種文本具有同等效力。