   SAs constitute the earliest form of legal NPOs in China and are essentially membership associations of various kinds. Many industry and professional associations fall into this category. They are formed to advance the  shared objectives of their members, and may be formed for mutual benefit or public benefit. The current rules governing social associations in China are the Regulations on the Registration and Administration of Social Associations (1998). There were 336,000 registered social associations in China in 2016.
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