The contract is the bridge to transaction, as well as the core of business practice. Accompanying with the development of electronic commerce, contract negotiation under more complicated environment in advantage of internet is becoming increasingly urgent. This paper briefly introduces the status of electronic signature and electronic contract in China, then presents a reference architecture for an online system for electronic contract negotiation and signature in detail. This architecture is systematically designed on the basis of electronic signature technology to realize online contract signing, electronic contract storage on the trusted third party and online or offline verifications. All above ensures electronic contract's confidentiality, integrity and non-repudiation, makes a breakthrough for electronic signature in business field, and realizes the electronization in the whole process of business negotiation.

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