Published by ChinaMNC · Fushun

Navigating Government Information Access in Sichuan: A Guide for Foreign Founders

A practical summary of Sichuan Province's government information disclosure rules for foreign entrepreneurs, covering proactive disclosure, application procedures, and response timelines.

Why Government Information Matters for Foreign Founders

For foreign founders setting up or operating a company in Sichuan, understanding how to access government information is essential for compliance, due diligence, and strategic planning. The Sichuan Provincial People's Government has established a framework under the Regulations on Open Government Information of the People's Republic of China (State Council Order No. 711). This guide outlines the key aspects of that framework, tailored for foreign entrepreneurs.

Proactive Disclosure: Information Available Without Request

The government proactively publishes certain categories of information to ensure transparency and support economic activities. Foreign founders can access these through multiple channels.

What Information Is Proactively Disclosed?

Under the regulations, the following types of information are actively made public (among others):

• Government structure and leadership: Provincial leadership roles, organizational setup, main responsibilities, and work rules.
• Regulations and normative documents: Provincial government rules and normative documents issued by the provincial government and its general office.
• Plans and statistics: Provincial economic and social development plans, special plans, regional plans, related policies, and statistical information.
• Administrative matters: Administrative licensing, penalties, compulsory measures, and other external management services.
• Financial information: Fiscal budgets and final accounts, government centralized procurement, and administrative fee information.
• Major construction projects: Approval and implementation status of significant projects.
• Livelihood issues: Policies and implementation on poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, social security, employment promotion; emergency plans and warnings for public incidents; supervision and inspection of environmental protection, public health, work safety, food and drug safety, and product quality.
• Personnel matters: Provincial personnel appointments and removals, civil servant recruitment.

Where to Find Proactively Disclosed Information

Foreign founders can access this information through:

• The Sichuan Provincial People's Government Gazette.
• The official website of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government.
• Social media channels: "Sichuan Release" Sina Weibo, "Sichuan Release" WeChat public account, and the "Sichuan Provincial People's Government Website" Toutiao account.
• Provincial government press conferences.
• Other media: radio, television, newspapers.
• Additionally, information is available at the Sichuan Provincial Government Government Services and Public Resource Trading Service Center, the Sichuan Provincial Archives, and the Sichuan Provincial Library (these serve as information disclosure acceptance and reading venues).

Timeliness of Proactive Disclosure

Information in the proactive disclosure scope is made public within 20 working days from the date of formation or change. Where laws or regulations provide otherwise, those provisions apply.

Requesting Information: Application-Based Disclosure

If the information you need is not proactively disclosed, you can file a request with the Sichuan Provincial People's Government or its General Office. Foreign founders should follow these steps to ensure a smooth process.

Step 1: Identify the Correct Agency

Before applying, determine which agency holds the information. Visit the provincial government portal, click on "Agency Functions" to learn about the responsibilities and setup of provincial administrative agencies. Then, based on the type of information needed, submit your application to the appropriate agency through its designated channels. For example:

• For approval information on major construction projects or feasibility study reports, apply to the Development and Reform Commission.
• For information on collective land expropriation, apply to the Natural Resources Department.
• For information on state-owned land housing expropriation and compensation, or shantytown renovation, apply to the municipal or county-level government and its housing and urban-rural development department where the applicant is located.

Step 2: Submit Your Application

The General Office of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government accepts applications submitted in person, by mail, or online. The Provincial Government Information Disclosure Office handles the specific matters.

• In person: Submit at the government information disclosure application acceptance point at the Provincial Government Services Center. You can obtain the Government Information Disclosure Application Form on-site, fill it out, and submit it.
• By mail: Send the application form along with a copy of your valid ID.
• Online: Register on the Sichuan Government Services Network, log in, and submit your application online. Select the application type, enter your information (name, ID number, etc.), and you can track the progress.

Step 3: Complete the Application Form Properly

When applying, ensure your request is clear and specific. Provide the name, document number, or other descriptive details that will help the agency locate the information. If the request is unclear, the agency will provide guidance and may request supplementation within 7 working days from receipt, specifying what needs to be corrected and a reasonable deadline. If you fail to supplement without justification, the application may be considered abandoned.

Step 4: Understand the Response Timeline

After receiving your application, the agency will respond within 20 working days, unless an immediate response is possible. If an extension is needed, the head of the information disclosure office may approve an extension of up to 20 additional working days, and you will be notified in writing. Time spent consulting third parties or other agencies is not counted in the processing period. If supplementation is required, the response period starts from the date the supplemented application is received.

Possible Outcomes of Your Application

The agency may:

• Provide the information if it is disclosable, or inform you of the manner, channel, and time to obtain it.
• Inform you if the information is not held by the agency and, if known, provide the name and contact details of the responsible agency.
• Inform you that the request is rejected if it is a repeat of a previous request for the same information.
• Inform you to follow specific laws or administrative regulations for certain information, such as business registration or real estate registration data.

Fees and Limitations

Information processing fees may be charged in accordance with the Measures for the Administration of Information Processing Fees for Government Information Disclosure (Guo Ban Han [2020] No. 109) and provincial regulations. The agency is not obligated to process or analyze existing information; it provides information as stored. If your request volume or frequency is clearly unreasonable, the agency may ask for justification and may reject the request if the justification is unreasonable.

Additional Tips for Foreign Founders

• Before filing a request, check the proactive disclosure channels to see if the information is already available.
• For matters unrelated to government information disclosure—such as complaints, suggestions, or inquiries—use dedicated channels like the Governor's Mailbox, the 12345 online message system, or the disciplinary inspection reporting channel.
• If you believe your legitimate rights have been infringed in the information disclosure process, you may complain or report to the higher-level administrative agency or the competent department for government information disclosure, or apply for administrative reconsideration or file an administrative lawsuit according to law.

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