Published by ChinaMNC · Yanjiang

How Foreign Founders Can Navigate China’s Government Information Disclosure System

A practical guide to China’s government information disclosure framework, including key regulations, planning documents, and annual reports, for foreign founders establishing or operating a company in China.

Understanding Government Information Disclosure in China

For foreign founders setting up or running a business in China, access to reliable government information is essential. China’s government information disclosure system, governed by the Regulations on Open Government Information of the People’s Republic of China (effective 2019-04-15), provides a structured way to obtain official documents and data. The Government Information Disclosure Platform on the central government website (www.gov.cn) serves as a central hub for these disclosures.

The platform organizes information into categories such as policies, plans, and annual reports. Foreign founders can use it to understand the regulatory environment, find policy documents, and learn about procedures for government information requests.

Key Regulations and Notices

The platform lists several important regulations and notices that shape how government information is disclosed. These include:

Regulations on Open Government Information (2019-04-15) – the foundational rules for disclosure.
Notice on Issuing the Measures for the Administration of Information Processing Fees for Government Information Disclosure (2020-12-01) – clarifies fee structures for information requests.
Notice on Issuing the Measures for Formulating Public Information Disclosure Rules for Public Enterprises and Institutions (2020-12-21) – relevant to sectors like utilities and education.
Notice on Forwarding the Ministry of Justice’s Guiding Opinions on Several Issues Concerning the Trial of Administrative Reconsideration Cases of Government Information Disclosure (2022-01-04) – addresses dispute resolution.
Notice on Doing a Good Job in Centralized Disclosure and Dynamic Updating of Rules and Regulations (2021-10-29) – ensures rules are kept current.
Notice on Issuing the Format for Annual Reports on Government Information Disclosure Work (2021-09-29) – standardizes reporting.
Notice on Matters Concerning the Standardization of Government Information Disclosure Platforms (2019-12-03) – guides platform construction.
Several interpretive documents from 2017 and 2019 clarify issues such as application channels, response responsibilities, annual report filling, delivery of decisions, and the boundary between information disclosure and business inquiries.

Foreign founders should note that these rules apply to government information requests. Understanding them can help avoid delays and ensure compliance when seeking official documents.

National and Special Plans

The platform provides access to national economic and social development plans, including the 15th Five-Year Plan (current), the 14th Five-Year Plan and 2035 Vision, and previous plans dating back to the 10th Five-Year Plan. These plans outline China’s strategic priorities and can inform business planning.

Special plans are also available, such as:

Action plan for special education development (15th Five-Year Plan)
Intellectual property protection and utilization plan (15th Five-Year Plan)
National fitness plan (2026–2030)
Plan for expanding consumption (15th Five-Year Plan)
National health plan (15th Five-Year Plan)
Plan for revitalizing traditional Chinese medicine (15th Five-Year Plan)

These documents can help foreign founders identify sectors with government support and potential incentives. Local development plans for provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities are also listed, enabling region-specific research.

Annual Reports on Government Information Disclosure

The platform publishes annual reports on government information disclosure work from 2020 to 2025. These reports are available for:

Provincial-level governments (31 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities)
Vertically managed systems such as the People’s Bank of China, Customs, Taxation, Financial Supervision, Securities Regulatory, Meteorological, Grain and Strategic Reserves, Tobacco, Railway, Civil Aviation, Postal, Mining Safety, Fire Rescue, and Foreign Exchange systems.
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, and many others.

These reports summarize disclosure activities and can provide insights into how government bodies handle information requests. For foreign founders, they may indicate the responsiveness of specific agencies.

Practical Steps for Foreign Founders

When seeking government information, foreign founders should:

Check the platform first for publicly available documents.
If the needed information is not found, follow the procedures for submitting an information disclosure request as outlined in the regulations and interpretive notices.
Be aware of potential fees for information processing, as per the 2020 fee measures.
Use the annual reports to understand the track record of agencies in disclosing information.
Consult the national and local plans to align business strategy with government priorities.

The platform also provides a search function. If no results are found, it suggests checking input for errors, simplifying search terms, or using similar or common words.

Conclusion

China’s government information disclosure system offers foreign founders a way to access official policies and data. By understanding the key regulations and utilizing the available resources, founders can make more informed decisions when 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.

For assistance with registering and operating a company in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.