Last week, China announced its accession to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (also known as the Apostille Convention).

The accession is expected to have evident positive impact on international trade and commerce, as well as on cross-border legal activities involving China.

The Convention is an international agreement that simplifies the process of authenticating foreign public documents, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, and academic diplomas, by eliminating the requirement for additional legalization procedures. With China’s accession, 9 out of 10 of world’s top economic market are now member states of the Convention.

The accession will particularly benefit businesses and individuals who frequently need to provide or receive documents from China for legal or commercial purposes, as it will streamline the process and reduce associated costs and delays. Moreover, it will enhance legal certainty and facilitate cross-border cooperation in areas such as education, trade, and investment.

China’s accession to the Apostille Convention is a positive and timely step towards greater efficiency and transparency in international transactions, and is expected to further promote China’s integration into the global economy.