Foreign design companies must cooperate with Chinese partners to take on construction projects in China when newly published regulations by the Ministry of Construction takes effect on June 10.

As there was no rule on the activities of foreign companies in China, the ministry issued the special management regulation.

The design contract should be signed by both foreign designers and their Chinese partners, and the latter must be qualified for the construction. The contract should be written in Chinese and make clear the rights and responsibilities of each part, accordingto the regulations.

Foreign companies should adopt the Chinese official technical standards during their design of construction projects and they will be charged in line with the local standards without tax evasion, the regulation said.

In addition, the regulations said foreign design companies cannot take part in secret projects, disaster relief projects and other projects.