Laws of the People's Republic of China

State Administration of Taxation

Notice of the State Administration of Taxation on the Effectiveness of the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the Avoidance of Double Taxation

Guo Shui Han [2003] No. 1103

The bureaus of state taxes and those of local taxes of all provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government and cities specifically designated in the state plan, and Yangzhou Taxation Institute:

The Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was concluded in the Port of Spain on September 18, 2003. The Agreement shall be effective after both contracting states have completed their respective legal procedures. The text of the Agreement is hereby printed and distributed to you, please make good preparations prior to the implementation of the Agreement.

Annex: Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income Between the Government of the People's Republic of China

State Administration of Taxation

September 28, 2004 Annex:Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

In order to encourage international trade and investments, the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, desiring to conclude an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, have agreed to the following:

Article 1

Persons Covered

This Agreement shall apply to the persons who are residents of one or both of the contracting states.

Article 2

Taxes Covered

1.

The current tax categories to which this Agreement shall apply are:

(a)

in the case of Trinidad and Tobago:

(1)the income tax;

(2)the corporate tax;

(3)the petroleum profit tax;

(4)the additional petroleum tax; and

(5)the unemployment tax.

(hereinafter referred to as "Trinidad and Tobago taxes")

(b)

in the case of China:

(1)the individual income tax; and

(2)the foreign-funded enterprises and foreign enterprise income tax.

(hereinafter referred to as "Chinese taxes")

2.

This Agreement shall also apply to the identical or substantially similar taxes that are levied after the date of signature of this Agreement as an addition or replacement to the current tax categories. The competent authorities of both contracting states shall notify each other of any substantial changes made in their respective taxation laws within a reasonable time limit after such changes are made.

Article 3

General Definitions

1.

For the purpose of present Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)

the term "Trinidad and Tobago" refers to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, consisting of all the islands of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the inland water, territorial sea, the airspace above, the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone beyond its territorial sea within which the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago exercises its sovereign rights or jurisdiction in accordance with the international law and its domestic legislation;

(b)

the term "China" means the People's Republic of China. When used in a geographical sense, means all the territory of the People's Republic of China, in which the Chinese laws relating to taxation apply, including its territorial sea, and any area beyond its territorial sea, within which the People's Republic of China has sovereign rights of exploration for and exploitation of resources of the sea-bed and its sub-soil and superjacent water resources in accordance with the international law;

(c)

the terms "a contracting state" and "the other contracting state" refers to Trinidad and Tobago or China, as the context requires;

(d)

the term "tax" refers to "Trinidad and Tobago taxes" or "Chinese taxes" as the context requires;

(e)

the term "person" refers to an individual, a company or any other body;

(f)

the term "company" refers to any legal person entity or any entity which is treated as a legal person entity for taxation purposes;

(g)

the terms "enterprise of a contracting state" and "enterprise of the other contracting state" refer to, respectively, an enterprise operated by a resident of a contracting state and an enterprise operated by a resident of the other contracting state;

(h)

the term "international traffic" refers to any transport by a ship or aircraft operated by an enterprise of a contracting state, excluding that by ship or aircraft which is operated solely between places in the other contracting state;

(i)

the term "competent authority" refers

(1)in the case of Trinidad and Tobago, to the minister of responsible for the public finance or his authorized representatives; while

(2)in the case of China, to the State Administration of Taxation or its authorized representatives.

(j)

the term "national" refers to:

(1)any individual possessing the nationality of a contracting state;

(2)any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws of a contracting state;

2.

As regards the application of the agreement by a contracting state, any term not defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning in which it has under the law of that contracting state concerning the taxes to which the agreement applies.

Article 4

Residents

1.

For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "resident of a contracting state" means any person who, under the law of that state, is obligatory to pay tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of management, place of head office or any other criterion of a similar nature. But the term doesn't include the persons who are obligatory to pay tax only because of the income sourced from this state, or the property located in this state.

2.

Where by reason of the provisions of Paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both contracting states, then his status shall be determined as follows:

(a)

he shall be deemed as a resident of the contracting state in which he has a permanent domicile available to him; if he has a permanent domicile available to him in each of the contracting states, he shall be deemed as a resident of the contracting state with which his personal and economic relations are closer (center of vital interests);

(b)

if the state in which his center of vital interests lies cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in either contracting state, he shall be deemed as a resident of the state in which he has a habitual abode;

(c)

if he has a habitual abode in each of the contracting states or in neither of them, he shall be deemed as a resident of the contracting state of which he is a national;

(d)

if he is a national of both or neither of the contracting states, the competent authorities of the contracting states shall settle the issue by mutual agreement.

3.

Where, by reason of the provisions of Paragraph 1 of the present Article, a person other than an individual is a resident of both contracting states, it shall be deemed to be a resident of the state in which the place of effective management of its business is located. However, where such a person has the place of effective management of its business in one of the contracting state and the place of head office of its business in the other contracting state, then the competent authorities of the contracting state shall determine by mutual agreement the state of which the company shall be deemed to be a resident for the purpose of this Agreement.

Article 5

Permanent Establishment

1.

For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "permanent establishment" refers to a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

2.

The term "permanent establishment", in particular, includes:

(a)

a place of management;

(b)

a branch organization;

(c)

a representative office;

(d)

a factory;

(e)

a workshop, and

(f)

a mine, an petroleum or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of natural resources.

3.

The term "permanent establishment", likewise, encompasses:

(a)

a building site, a construction, assembly or installation project, or the supervisory activities in connection therewith, but only where such site, project or activities continue for a period of not less than 6 months;

(b)

the provision of services, including consultancy services, by an enterprise of a contracting state through employees or other engaged personnel for the aforementioned purpose, provided that the period for such activities is continually or aggregately more than 6 months within any 12-month period.

(c)

an installation, drilling rig or ship used for the exploration of natural resources, but only if so used continuously for a period of more than 3 months.

4.

Notwithstanding the aforesaid provisions of this article, the term "permanent establishment" shall not include:

(a)

the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;

(b)

the inventory of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage, display or delivery;

(c)

the inventory of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;

(d)

the fixed business place established solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise or of collecting information for the enterprise; and

(e)

the fixed business place established solely for the purpose of carrying out, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary nature;

(f)

the fixed business place established solely for the purpose of combining the activities listed in Items (a)through (e)of the present Paragraph if such combination can attribute all the activities of the fixed business place with a preparatory or auxiliary nature.

5.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person (other than an agent of one with independent status to whom the provisions of Paragraph 6 apply)is acting in a contracting state on behalf of an enterprise of the other contracting state, has and habitually exercises an authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the first-mentioned contracting state in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in Paragraph 4 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment.

6.

An enterprise of a contracting state shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other contracting state merely because it operates its business in that other state through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent with independent status in the ordinary course of their business. However, if such agent acts wholly or nearly wholly on behalf of that enterprise, he shall not be deemed as an agent with independent status as referred to in this Paragraph.

7.

The fact that a company which is a resident of a contracting state controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other contracting state, or which operates business in that other contracting state (whether through a permanent establishment or not), shall not itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.

Article 6

Income from Immovable Property

1.

Income derived by a resident of a contracting state from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry)situated in the other contracting state may be taxed in that other contracting state.

2.

The term "immovable property" shall have the meaning it has under the law of the contracting state in which the property in question is situated. The term shall, in any case, include the property accessory to the immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry. The rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, the usufruct of immovable property and the rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, the mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources, the ships and aircrafts shall not be regarded as immovable property.

3.

The provisions of Paragraph 1 shall apply to the income derived from the direct use, lease, or use in any other form of immovable property.

4.

The provisions of Paragraphs 1 and 3 shall apply to the income from immovable property of an enterprise and to the income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.

Article 7

Business Profits

1.

The profits of an enterprise of a contracting state shall be taxable only in that state unless the enterprise carries on business in the other contracting state through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on business in the other contracting state through a permanent establishment situated therein, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other state, but only those attributable to that permanent establishment.

2.

In addition to applying the provisions of Paragraph 3, where an enterprise of a contracting state carries on business in the other contracting state through a permanent establishment situated therein, the permanent establishment shall be regarded as the independent affiliated enterprise engaging in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions. It shall be treated differently and separately as an independent establishment from the enterprise. The profits of this permanent establishment that may be obtained shall belong to the permanent establishment itself in each contracting state.

3.

When determining the profits of a permanent establishment, deductions of expenses occurred in the business of the permanent establishment may be allowed. The expenses include the executive and general administrative expenses, no matter whether they incurred in the state in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.

4.

Insofar as it has been customary in a contracting state to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of a distribution of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, the provisions in Paragraph 2 shall not preclude that contracting state from determining the profits to be taxed by this method of profit distribution. However, the result of adopting the method of profit distribution shall be in line with the principles provided in the present Article.

5.

No profits may be attributed to a permanent establishment by reason of mere purchase by that permanent establishment of goods or merchandise for the enterprise.

6.

For the purposes of the aforesaid Paragraphs, the profits belonging to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to change.

7.

If the profits include the income items that are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Agreement, the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of the present Article.

Article 8

Shipping and Air Transport

1.

The profits from the operations of ships or aircrafts in international transport by an enterprise of a contracting state shall be taxable only in that contracting state.

2.

The provisions of Paragraph 1 shall also apply to the profits from operations under partnership, joint operations or participation in an international operating agency.

Article 9

Associated Enterprises

1.

Where

(a)

an enterprise of a contracting state participates directly or indirectly participates in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other contracting state, or

(b)

a same person participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of a contracting state and an enterprise of the other contracting state,

and in either of the above cases, the commercial and financial relations between the two enterprises are different from those between two independent enterprises, so the profits which would, but for those conditions, have obtained by one of the enterprises, may be included in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly.

2.

Where a contracting state includes in the profits of an enterprise of that contracting state (and taxes accordingly)the profits on which an enterprise of the other contracting state has paid taxes in that other contracting state and the profits so included are profits which should have been obtained by an enterprise within the contracting state, then that other contracting state shall make appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits, where that other contracting state considers such adjustment justifiable. In determining such adjustment, the other provisions of this Agreement shall be taken into consideration, and the competent authorities of the contracting states shall consult each other, if necessary.

Article 10

Dividends

1.

Dividends paid by a company that is a resident of a contracting state to a resident of the other contracting state may be taxed in that other state.

2.

However, such dividends may also be taxed in the contracting state of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that state, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the dividends, the tax so levied

(a)

shall not exceed 5 percent of the total amount of the dividends if the beneficial owner is a company that holds at least 25 percent of the capital of the company paying the dividends; or

(b)

shall not exceed 10 percent of the total amount of the dividends in other circumstances.

The present Paragraph shall not affect the profit tax imposed on the company's profits before paying the dividends.

3.

The term "dividends" as used in the present Article refers to the income from the shares or other rights of participating in the profits not of credit relationship, as well as the income from other corporate rights that are subject to the same taxation treatment as the income from the shares by the laws of the state of which the company making the distribution is a resident.

4.

The provisions of Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a contracting state, carries on business in the other contracting state of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or provides in that other state the independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the shares for which the dividends are paid are effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such cases, the application of the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14 shall depend on the concrete circumstances.

5.

Where a company that is a resident of a contracting state derives profits or income from the other contracting state, that other contracting state may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other contracting state or insofar as the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent establishment or a fixed base situated in that other contracting state, nor subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the company's undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other state.

6.

Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement, where an enterprise that is a resident of a contracting state has a permanent establishment in the other contracting state and derives profits or income from this permanent establishment, the part of profits or income repatriated or deemed as repatriated to the enterprise that is resident of the first-mentioned contracting state shall be taxed according to the laws of the other contracting state, but the tax rate shall not exceed 5%.

Article 11

Interest

1.

The interest arising in a contracting state and paid to a resident of the other contracting state may be taxed in that other contracting state.

2.

However, such interest may also be taxed in the contracting state in which it arises according to the laws of that contracting state, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the interest, the tax so collected shall not exceed 10 percent of the total amount of the interest.

3.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph 2 of the present Article, the interest arising in a contracting state and derived by the government of the other contracting state shall be exempted from taxation in the first-mentioned contracting state. The term "government",

(a)

in the case of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, means

(1)the Central Bank of the Trinidad and Tobago;

(2)the Agricultural Development Bank;

(3)Export Insurance Company;

(4)the State Housing Authority;

(5)the State Insurance Regulatory Commission;

(6)the Housing Mortgage Bank;

(7)the Deposit Insurance Company;

(8)the Small Enterprise Development Company;

(9)the Development Financing Co. Ltd.;

(10)the Trinidad and Tobago Mortgage Financing Company; or

(11)any other similar institutions wholly owned by the government of Trinidad and Tobago upon the mutual agreement between the competent authorities of the contracting states at any time.

(b)

while in the case of China, means the government of China, which shall include:

(1)the People's Bank of China;

(2)the State Development Bank;

(3)the Import & Export Bank of China;

(4)the Agricultural Development Bank of China; or

(5)any other similar institution wholly owned by the government of China upon the mutual agreement between the competent authorities of the contracting states at any time.

4.

The term "interest" as used in the present Article refers to the income from various creditor's rights, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's profits, and in particular, the income from public debts and the income from bonds or debentures, including the premiums and prizes attached to such securities, bonds or debentures. The penalty charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest provided in the present Article.

5.

The provisions of Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 shall not apply, if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a contracting state, carries on business in the other contracting state in which the interest arises through a permanent establishment situated therein, or provides in that other contracting state independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the creditor's right in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such cases, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14 shall apply in accordance with the circumstances.

6.

The interest shall be deemed to arise in a contracting state when the payer is the government, a local authority or a resident of that contracting state. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is a resident of a contracting state or not, has in a contracting state a permanent establishment or a fixed base, and the debts on which the interest is paid are connected with the permanent establishment or a fixed base, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the state in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

7.

Where, due to any special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other persons, the amount of the interest, regarding the credit for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each contracting state, but the other provisions of this Agreement shall be taken into consideration.

Article 12

Royalties

1.

Royalties arising in a contracting state and paid to a resident of the other contracting state may be taxed in that other contracting state.

2.

However, such royalties may also be taxed in the contracting state in which they arise according to the laws of that state, but if the recipient is the beneficial owner of the royalties, the tax so collected shall not exceed 10 percent of the total amount of the royalties.

3.

The term "royalties" as used in the present Article refers to the payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematographic films, or films or tapes for radio or television broadcasting, any patent, trademark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of, or the right to use, any industrial, commercial, or scientific equipment, or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

4.

The provisions of Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a contracting state, carries on business in the other contracting state in which the royalties arise through a permanent establishment situated therein, or provides in that other state independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such cases, the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14 shall, as the case may be, apply.

5.

The royalties shall be deemed to arise in a contracting state when the payer is the government, a local authority or a resident of that contracting state. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a contracting state or not, has in a contracting state a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with the liability to pay the royalties, and such royalties are borne by the permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the contracting state in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

6.

Where, due to any special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, regarding the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount. In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the law of each contracting state, but the other provisions of this Agreement shall be taken into consideration.

Article 13

Property Gains

1.

Gains derived by a resident of a contracting state from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other contracting state may be taxed in that other contracting state.

2.

Gains from the alienation of movable property forming the part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a contracting state has in the other contracting state or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a contracting state in the other contracting state for the purpose of providing independent personal services, including the gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise)or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other state.

3.

Gains of an enterprise of a contracting state from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in international transport or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircrafts shall be taxable only in that contracting state.

4.

Gains from the alienation of any property other than those as mentioned in Paragraphs 1 through 3 shall be taxable only in the contracting state of which the alienator is a resident.

Article 14

Independent Personal Services

1.

Income derived by a resident of a contracting state in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent nature shall be taxable only in that state except that, under any of the following circumstances, such income may also be taxed in the other contracting state:

(a)

if he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other contracting state for the purpose of performing his activities, and under this circumstance, only the income attributable to that fixed base may be taxed in that other state;

(b)

if his stay in the other contracting state is for a period or periods amounting to or exceeding 183 days continuously or accumulatively in any 12-month period, under this circumstance, only the income derived from his activities performed in that other state may be taxed in that other; or

(c)

Income derived by a resident of a contracting state in respect of the above-mentioned services in the corresponding taxable year exceeds US $15, 000 or of equivalent value in Renminbi or Trinidad and Tobago dollar.

2.

The term "professional services" includes especially independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational, or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists and accountants.

Article 15

Non-independent Personal Services

1.

In addition to the provisions of Articles 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21, the salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a contracting state in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that state unless the employment is exercised in the other. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration derived may be taxed in that other state.

2.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph 1, the remuneration derived by a resident of a contracting state in respect of an employment exercised in the other contracting state shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned state if the following requirements are met simultaneously:

(a)

the recipient is present in the other contracting state for a period or periods not exceeding 183 days continuously or accumulatively in any calendar year;

(b)

the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other contracting state; and

(c)

the remuneration is not paid by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other contracting state.

3.

Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of the present Article, the remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international transport by an enterprise of a contracting state shall be taxed in that contracting state only.

Article 16

Directors' Fees

Directors' fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a contracting state in his capacity as a member of the board of directors of a company which is a resident of the other contracting state may be taxed in that other contracting state.

Article 17

Artists and Sportsmen

1.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, the income derived by a resident of a contracting state as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, radio or television artist, or a musician, or as a sportsman, from his personal activities exercised in the other contracting state, may be taxed in that other contracting state.

2.

Where the income obtained through personal activities exercised by an entertainer or sportsman in his capacity will not belong to the entertainer or sportsman himself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7, 14 and 15, be taxed in the contracting state in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsman are exercised.

3.

Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of the present Article, the income derived by a resident of a contracting state as an entertainer or sportsman from the activities under a program of cultural exchange of both contracting states exercised in the other contracting state, shall be exempted from taxation in that other contracting state.

Article 18

Pensions

1.

In addition to the provisions of Paragraph 2 of Article 19 , the pensions, other similar remunerations and any annuity paid to a resident of a contracting state in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that contracting state.

2.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph 1, the pensions and other similar payments paid by the government of a contracting state or a local authority thereof according to a program of public welfare under the social insurance system shall be taxable only in that contracting state.

3.

The term "annuity" as mentioned in the preceding Paragraph means a stated sum payable periodically at stated time during life or during a specified or ascertainable period of time under an obligation to make the payments in return for adequate and full consideration in money or money worth.

Article 19

Government Services

1.

(a)

The remuneration other than pension, paid by the government of a contracting state or a local authority thereof for performing government duties, to an individual in respect of services rendered to that contracting state or authority thereof, shall be taxable only in that other state.

(b)

However, such remuneration shall be taxable only if the services are rendered in that other contracting state and the individual is a resident of that other contracting state who:

(1)is a national of that contracting state; or

(2)did not become a resident of that contracting state solely for the reason of rendering the services.

This remuneration shall only be taxable in that other contracting state.

2.

(a)

Any pension paid by, or paid out of the funds created by the government of a contracting state or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that contracting state or authority thereof shall be taxable only in that contracting state.

(b)

However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other contracting state if the individual is a resident and a national of that other contracting state.

3.

The provisions of Articles 15, 16, 17 and 18 shall apply to the remuneration and pensions in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by the government of a contracting state or a local authority thereof.

Article 20

Students and Trainees

1.

A student, business apprentice or trainee who is, or was a resident of the other contracting state immediately before visiting a contracting state, and who is present in the first-mentioned state solely for the purpose of his education or training shall be exempted from paying taxes in that first-mentioned state on the payments derived from sources outside that contracting state for the purpose of making a living, accepting education or training.

2.

In respect of grants, scholarships and remuneration from employment not covered by Paragraph 1, a student, business apprentice or intern described in Paragraph 1 shall, in addition, be entitled during such education or training to the same exemptions, preferential treatments or reductions in respect of taxes, available to the residents of the state he is visiting.

Article 21

Teachers and Researchers

1.

An individual who is, or immediately before visiting a contracting state, was a resident of the other contracting state and who is present in the first-mentioned state solely for the purpose of teaching, giving lectures or conducting research at a university, college, school or other similar educational institution or scientific research institution accredited by the government of the first-mentioned contracting state shall be exempted from paying taxes in the first-mentioned contracting state, for a period of 2 years from the date of his first arrival in the first-mentioned contracting state, in respect of remuneration for such teaching, lectures and research.

2.

The provisions of the present Article shall not apply to the income from research if such research is undertaken not for the public interest but primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.

Article 22

Other Incomes

1.

Items of income of a resident of a contracting state, wherever arising, not dealt with in the above-mentioned Articles of this Agreement shall be taxable in that contracting state only.

2.

The provisions of Paragraph 1 shall not apply to the income, other than the income from immovable property as defined in Paragraph 2 of Article 6 , if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a contracting state, carries on business in the other contracting state through a permanent establishment situated therein, or provides in that other state independent personal services form a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such cases the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14 shall apply in light of the actual circumstances.

3.

Notwithstanding the provisions in the Paragraphs 1 and 2, the items of income a resident of a contracting state not dealt with in the above-mentioned Articles of this Agreement, wherever arising in the other contracting state, may be taxable in that other.

Article 23

Methods for the Elimination of Double Taxation

1.

In Trinidad and Tobago, double taxation shall be eliminated in the following ways:

(a)

Besides the application of the provisions of the laws of Trinidad and Tobago regarding the allowance as a credit against Trinidad and Tobago taxes payable in a territory outside Trinidad and Tobago (which shall not affect the general principle hereof),

(1)Chinese taxes payable under the laws of China and in accordance with this Agreement, whether directly or by deduction, on profits or income (excluding the payable tax on the profits out of which the dividends are paid)sourced from China shall be allowed as a credit against any Trinidad and Tobago taxes calculated by reference to the same profits or income by reference to which Chinese taxes is calculated;

(2)where a company who is a resident of China pays a company who is a resident of Trinidad and Tobago any dividend and the latter directly holds shares with at least 25 % of the voting rights of the former, the credit shall take into account the Chinese taxes payable by the company in respect of the profits out of which such dividend is paid in addition to any Chinese taxes creditable under the provisions of Article 23 .1.(a). (1).

(b)

However, in any case, the amount of the credit shall not exceed the amount of tax on that income calculated under Chinese taxes.

2.

In China, double taxation shall be eliminated in the following ways:

(a)

Where a resident of China derives income from Trinidad and Tobago, the amount of tax on that income payable in Trinidad and Tobago may be credited against the China tax imposed on that resident. The to-be-credited amount, however, shall not exceed the amount of the Chinese taxes on that income calculated in accordance

with the taxation laws and regulations of China.

(b)

Where the income of a company who is a resident of China is a dividend paid by a company who is a resident of Trinidad and Tobago and the first-mentioned company directly holds shares with at least 10% of the voting rights of the latter, the credit shall take into account the Trinidad and Tobago taxes payable by the company in respect of the income.

3.

As requires in the context, in accordance with laws and regulations of a contracting state concerning tax deductions, exemptions or other tax preferential treatments for the purpose of promoting economic development, the other contracting state shall deem the untaxed amount as taxed in the contracting state mentioned first.

Article 24

Non-discrimination

1.

The nationals of a contracting state shall not be subject in the other contracting state to any tax or any requirement that is different from or more burdensome than the taxation or requirement to which the nationals of that other state under the same circumstance is or may be subject to taxation.

2.

The tax burden of a permanent establishment, which an enterprise of a contracting state bears in the other contracting state shall not be heavier than that of the enterprises of that other contracting state engaged in the same activities. This provision shall not be understood as obligating a contracting state to grant to the residents of the other contracting state any personal allowances, preferential treatments and deductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.

3.

In addition to applying the provisions of Paragraphs 1of Article 9 , Paragraph 7 of Article 11 , or Paragraph 6 of Article 12 , the interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a contracting state to a resident of the other contracting state shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deducted under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned state.

4.

The enterprises of a contracting state, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other contracting state, shall not be subject in the first-mentioned state to any taxation or any requirement, which is different from or more burdensome than the taxation or requirement to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned state are or may be subject.

5.

Notwithstanding Article 2 , the present Article shall be applicable to all taxes.

Article 25

Procedure for Mutual Agreement

1.

Where a person considers that the measures taken by one or both of the contracting states lead or will lead to the taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those states, present his case to the competent authority of the contracting state of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under Paragraph 1 of Article 24 , to that of the contracting state of which he is a national. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the taxation measures not in accordance with the provisions of the agreement.

2.

If the competent authority believes that the objection is justified and no satisfactory solution could be made, it shall try to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other contracting state, with a view to the avoidance of taxation that is not in accordance with this Agreement. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the contracting states.

3.

The competent authorities of both contracting states shall try to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of this Agreement. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in this Agreement.

4.

The competent authorities of the contracting states may communicate with each other directly for the purpose of reaching an agreement as provided in any of the preceding paragraphs.

Article 26

Exchange of Information

1.

The competent authorities of the contracting states shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Agreement or of the domestic laws of the contracting states concerning taxes covered by this Agreement (insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to this Agreement), in particular for the prevention of evasion or avoidance of such taxes. The exchange of information is not restricted by Article 1 . Any information received by a contracting state shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that contracting state and shall be disclosed only to the persons or authorities (including courts and administrative bodies)in relation to the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to, the taxes covered by this Agreement. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes, but may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.

2.

The provisions of Paragraph 1 shall not be understood as imposing the following obligations on a contracting state under any circumstances:

(a)

taking the administrative measures in violation of the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other contracting state;

(b)

supplying information that is not obtainable under the laws or through the normal administrative course of that or of the other contracting state;

(c)

supplying the information that would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial, or professional secret or trade process, or the information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (public order).

Article 27

Members of Diplomatic Missions and Consular Posts

This Agreement shall not affect the tax privileges enjoyed by the members of diplomatic missions and consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.

Article 28

Entry into Force

This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date on which the diplomatic notes indicating the completion of internal legal procedures in each country for the entry into force of this Agreement have been exchanged and this Agreement shall be applicable to:

1.

In Trinidad and Tobago

(a)

the tax deducted at the source of money paid, attributed or remitted to any non-resident as of the first day of the next month after the date of its entry into force;

(b)

any other tax levied as of the first day of January of the next taxable year after the year of its entry into force.

2.

In China

(a)

the tax deducted at the source of money paid, attributed or remitted to any non-resident as of the first day of the next month after the date of its entry into force;

(b)

any other tax levied as of the first day of January of the next taxable year after the year of its entry into force.

Article 29

Termination

1.

This Agreement shall be effective permanently, but either of the contracting states may, on or before the thirtieth day of June in any calendar year beginning after the expiration of a period of five years from the date of its entry into force, give written notice of termination to the other contracting state through the diplomatic channels.

2.

In such event, this Agreement shall cease to be effective:

(a)

In Trinidad and Tobago

(1)the tax deducted at the source of money paid, attributed or repatriated to any non-resident during the taxable years beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following that in which the notice of termination is given;

(2)any other tax levied during the taxable years beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following that in which the notice of termination is given.

(b)

In China

(1)the tax deducted at the source of money paid, attributed or repatriated to any non-resident during the taxable years beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next

following that in which the notice of termination is given;

(2)any other tax levied during the taxable years beginning on or after the first day of January in the calendar year next following that in which the notice of termination is given.

In witness where of the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto, have signed this Agreement.

Done in duplicate in Port of Spain on September 18, 2003 in Chinese and English, both texts being of identical force.

　By Li Zhaoxing　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　By Knowlson Gift

For the Government of the People's　For the Government of the Republic of

　Republic of China　　　　　　　　　　　　Trinidad and Tobago

Attachment:Protocol

At the signing of the Agreement between the Government of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Income (hereinafter referred to "this Agreement"), the undersigned have agreed upon the following provisions which form a integral party of this Agreement:

With reference to Paragraph 3 of Article 12 , the term "royalties" shall be deemed to include the technical fees closely related to the royalties.

In witness of where of the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by their respective governments, have signed this Protocol.

Done in duplicate in Port of Spain on September 18, 2003 in Chinese and English, both texts are of equal force.

　　By Li Zhaoxin　　　　　　　　　By Knowlson Gift

For the Government of the People'sFor the Government of the Republic of

　　Republic of China　　　　　　　Trinidad and Tobago