Zofalitsidwa · Nyanja (Chichewa)

China's Government Information Disclosure System: A Practical Guide for Foreign Founders

A concise guide to how China's government information disclosure platform works, and what it means for foreign entrepreneurs setting up and running a company in China.

China's Government Information Disclosure System: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

The Chinese government operates a national platform for the disclosure of government information, which is relevant for foreign founders who need to understand the regulatory environment and access official documents. This article summarizes the key features of the system based on information from the official government website.

What Is the Government Information Disclosure Platform?

The platform, hosted on the central government website (www.gov.cn), serves as a central repository for government information that is required to be made public. It includes a search function for policies, with fields for document title, issuing authority, document number, date of formulation, and date of publication. The platform also provides guidance for searching, such as checking input for errors, simplifying search terms, or using similar or common words if no results are found.

The platform is governed by the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Disclosure of Government Information, which were issued on April 15, 2019. These regulations set out the framework for government information disclosure.

Key Documents and Notices

The platform lists a number of notices and measures that govern the implementation of government information disclosure. These include:

Notice on the Measures for the Administration of Fees for Government Information Disclosure (issued December 1, 2020, by the General Office of the State Council).
Notice on the Measures for the Formulation of Regulations on Information Disclosure by Public Enterprises and Institutions (issued December 21, 2020).
Guiding Opinions on Several Issues Concerning the Trial of Administrative Reconsideration Cases Related to Government Information Disclosure (forwarded to the Ministry of Justice on January 4, 2022).
Notice on the Work of Centralized Disclosure and Dynamic Updating of Regulations (issued October 29, 2021).
Notice on the Format of Annual Reports on Government Information Disclosure Work (issued September 29, 2021).
Notice on Matters Concerning the Standardization of Government Information Disclosure Platforms (issued December 3, 2019).
Interpretations on Issues Concerning the Handling of Government Information Disclosure Applications after Institutional Reform (issued February 11, 2019).
Interpretations on Issues Concerning the Channels for Receiving Government Information Disclosure Applications (issued October 24, 2017).
Interpretations on Issues Concerning the Subject of Replies to Government Information Disclosure Applications (issued October 24, 2017).
Interpretations on Issues Concerning the Filling of Items in Annual Reports on Government Information Disclosure (issued October 24, 2017).
Interpretations on Issues Concerning the Delivery of Decisions on Government Information Disclosure (issued October 24, 2017).
Interpretations on Clarifying the Boundary between Government Information Disclosure and Business Inquiry Matters (issued October 24, 2017).

These documents provide the legal and procedural basis for how government information is disclosed and how requests for information are handled.

Development Plans and Sectoral Planning

The platform also provides access to national economic and social development plans, including the outlines of the 15th, 14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, and 10th Five-Year Plans. In addition, it lists special plans and notices, such as:

Reply on the Action Plan for the Development and Enhancement of Special Education during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
Notice on the Issuance of the 15th Five-Year Plan for Intellectual Property Protection and Utilization.
Notice on the Issuance of the National Fitness Plan (2026–2030).
Reply on the 15th Five-Year Plan for Expanding Consumption.
Notice on the Issuance of the National Health Plan during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
Reply on the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Revitalization and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

These plans can signal policy priorities and regulatory trends that may affect foreign businesses in sectors such as education, intellectual property, health, and consumer goods.

Annual Reports on Government Information Disclosure

The platform publishes annual reports on government information disclosure work at various levels. These include reports from provincial-level governments (such as Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang) and from vertically managed systems (such as the People's Bank system, customs system, tax system, financial regulatory system, securities regulatory system, meteorological system, grain and strategic reserves system, tobacco system, railway system, civil aviation system, postal system, mining safety supervision system, fire rescue system, and foreign exchange system).

Annual reports are also available from State Council departments, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, Ministry of Natural Resources, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, National Health Commission, Ministry of Veterans Affairs, Ministry of Emergency Management, People's Bank of China, National Audit Office, State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, General Administration of Customs, State Taxation Administration, State Administration for Market Regulation, National Financial Regulatory Administration, China Securities Regulatory Commission, National Radio and Television Administration, General Administration of Sport, National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration, National Bureau of Statistics, National Intellectual Property Administration, China International Development Cooperation Agency, National Healthcare Security Administration, National Government Offices Administration, National Press and Publication Administration, National Copyright Administration, China Meteorological Administration, National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, National Energy Administration, National Data Administration, State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, National Immigration Administration, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, National Railway Administration, Civil Aviation Administration of China, State Post Bureau, National Cultural Heritage Administration, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, National Mine Safety Administration, National Fire and Rescue Administration, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, National Medical Products Administration, National Civil Service Bureau, National Archives Administration, National Administration of State Secrets Protection, China Film Administration, and China Earthquake Administration.

These reports provide transparency on how government information is disclosed and can be useful for understanding administrative practices.

How Foreign Founders Can Use This Information

Foreign founders can use the platform to:

Access official documents that outline regulations and policies affecting business operations.
Understand the legal framework for government information disclosure, which can be relevant when seeking information from authorities.
Monitor policy trends through national and sectoral plans that may impact their industry.
Review annual reports to gauge the transparency and responsiveness of different government agencies.

While the platform is in Chinese, foreign founders can use translation tools or seek assistance from local professionals to navigate the content. The platform's search function allows users to find documents by title, issuing authority, or date.

It is important to note that the platform is a resource for information disclosure, not a substitute for legal advice. Foreign founders should consult with qualified professionals for specific regulatory and compliance questions.

Conclusion

China's government information disclosure platform is a valuable tool for foreign founders seeking to understand the regulatory landscape. By familiarizing themselves with the available documents and reports, entrepreneurs can make more informed decisions about registering and operating a company in China.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Call to Action: Foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for help registering and operating a company in China.