Published by ChinaMNC · Derong

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

Understand how China's government information disclosure system works and how foreign founders can use it to access regulations, policies, and annual reports for informed business decisions.

Why Government Information Disclosure Matters for Foreign Founders

When setting up or running a company in China, foreign founders need reliable access to official regulations, policy documents, and government reports. China's Government Information Disclosure system (often referred to as open government information) provides a structured way to obtain these materials. The system is governed by the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Open Government Information (effective April 15, 2019), which set out the framework for what information must be disclosed and how to request it.

For foreign founders, this means you can access key documents—such as regulations, plans, and annual reports—that affect business registration, operations, and compliance. Understanding how to navigate the system can save time and help you make informed decisions.

What Information Is Available?

The government information disclosure platform organizes information into several categories relevant to businesses:

• Policies and regulations: Including the Open Government Information Regulations itself and various implementing rules.
• National development plans: The Five-Year Plans for national economic and social development, from the 10th to the 15th Five-Year Plan.
• Sector-specific plans: Specialized plans such as those for intellectual property protection and utilization, national health, expanding consumption, and traditional Chinese medicine revitalization.
• Local development plans: Plans for provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities.
• Annual work reports: Government information disclosure work reports from 2020 to 2025, covering provinces, vertically managed systems (e.g., customs, tax, financial supervision), and State Council departments.

These documents can help foreign founders understand the regulatory environment and policy direction in their industry.

How to Access Government Information

The platform provides a search function and categorized listings. If a search returns no results, the system suggests checking input for errors, simplifying search terms, or using similar or common words. For specific requests, foreign founders can follow the procedures outlined in the Open Government Information Regulations and related notices.

Key implementing documents include:

• Notice on the Measures for the Administration of Information Processing Fees for Open Government Information (2020) – clarifies fee structures.
• Notice on Issues Concerning the Acceptance Channels for Open Government Information Applications (2017) – explains how to submit requests.
• Notice on Issues Concerning the Subject of Replies to Open Government Information Applications (2017) – identifies who responds to requests.
• Notice on Issues Concerning the Delivery of Decision Documents (2017) – covers how decisions are delivered.
• Notice on Clarifying the Boundary Between Open Government Information and Business Inquiry Matters (2017) – helps distinguish between general information and specific business inquiries.

These documents are available on the platform and provide practical guidance for making requests.

Annual Reports: A Resource for Understanding Government Transparency

The platform publishes annual work reports on government information disclosure for each year. These reports summarize what information was disclosed, how requests were handled, and other relevant statistics. Foreign founders can use these reports to gauge the transparency and responsiveness of different government bodies.

For example, the 2025 annual reports are available for:

• Provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong).
• Vertically managed systems such as the People's Bank of China, customs, tax, financial supervision, securities, meteorology, grain and strategic reserves, tobacco, railway, civil aviation, postal, mining safety, and foreign exchange systems.
• State Council departments (e.g., Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Commerce, State Taxation Administration, etc.).

Similar reports are available for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020, allowing you to track changes over time.

Practical Steps for Foreign Founders

To make the most of the government information disclosure system:

1. Identify the relevant authority: Determine which government body regulates your industry or issue. The platform lists departments and local governments.
2. Search the platform: Use the search function with clear, specific terms. If needed, try simplified or alternative terms.
3. Review published documents: Many regulations and plans are proactively disclosed. Check the policy and planning sections first.
4. Submit a request if necessary: If the information is not proactively disclosed, you can file a request under the Open Government Information Regulations. Follow the guidance on application channels and reply subjects.
5. Use annual reports: These provide context on how government bodies handle information disclosure and can help you understand what to expect.

Keep in mind that the system is designed for transparency, but not all information is disclosable. The regulations set exceptions, and the boundary between general information and business inquiries is clarified in official notices.

Conclusion

China's government information disclosure system offers foreign founders a way to access official documents and understand the regulatory landscape. By using the platform effectively, you can stay informed about policies, plans, and government operations that affect your business.

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.