Published by ChinaMNC · Ganluo

A Practical Guide to Accessing Government Information in Sichuan for Foreign Founders

Foreign founders operating in Sichuan can use the provincial government's information disclosure system to obtain official documents, permits, and policy details. This guide explains how to request information, what is proactively published, and key timelines, based on the official Sichuan government information disclosure guide.

Why Government Information Matters for Foreign Founders

When setting up or running a company in China, access to official government information is essential. Whether you need to verify regulations, understand permit requirements, or check policy details, knowing how to obtain government information can save time and reduce compliance risks. Sichuan Province has a structured system for public access to government information, governed by the national Regulation on Open Government Information (State Council Order No. 711). This article summarizes the key points from the Sichuan Provincial Government's official guide, tailored for foreign founders.

What Information Is Proactively Disclosed?

The Sichuan Provincial Government and its General Office proactively publish a wide range of information that may be relevant to business operations. Under the regulation, the following categories are actively disclosed:

• Leadership and structure: Provincial government leaders and their responsibilities, organizational setup, main functions, and work rules.
• Regulations and normative documents: Provincial government rules and normative documents issued by the provincial government and its General Office.
• Work reports and meetings: Provincial government work reports, important meetings, and information on leaders' attendance at major official activities.
• Planning and statistics: National 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: Budget and final accounts, government centralized procurement, and administrative fee information.
• Major projects: Approval and implementation status of major construction projects.
• Livelihood issues: Policies and measures on poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, social security, employment promotion, and their implementation; emergency plans, early warnings, and responses to public incidents; supervision and inspection of environmental protection, public health, work safety, food and drug safety, and product quality.
• Personnel matters: Personnel appointments and removals, and civil servant recruitment.
• Other information: As required by laws, regulations, and relevant national provisions.

This information is made available through various channels, including the Sichuan Provincial Government Gazette, the provincial government portal website, official social media accounts (Sina Weibo, WeChat, and Toutiao), press conferences, and other media such as radio, television, and newspapers. Additionally, government information can be accessed at the Sichuan Provincial Government Affairs Service and Public Resource Trading Service Center, the Sichuan Provincial Archives, and the Sichuan Provincial Library.

For proactively disclosed information, the government aims to publish it within 20 working days from the date the information is formed or changed, unless otherwise provided by laws or regulations.

How to Request Government Information

If the information you need is not proactively disclosed, you can file a request for government information disclosure. The Sichuan Provincial Government and its General Office accept such requests from citizens, legal persons, and other organizations (referred to as applicants).

Step 1: Identify the Correct Authority

To ensure a smooth process, first determine which government body holds the information you need. You can visit the Sichuan Provincial Government portal website and click on "Institutional Functions" to learn about the responsibilities and structure of provincial administrative agencies. Then, based on the type of information, submit your request to the appropriate authority through its designated channels. For example:

• For information on major construction project approvals and 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 house 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.

The General Office of the Sichuan Provincial Government accepts requests for information held by the provincial government and the General Office itself. The Provincial Government Information Disclosure Office handles the specific matters.

Step 2: Choose a Submission Method

You can submit a request in three ways: in person, by mail, or online.

• In person: Visit the government information disclosure request acceptance point at the Provincial Government Affairs Service Center. You can obtain the Government Information Disclosure Application Form on-site, fill it out, and submit it.
• By mail: Send the completed application form along with a copy of your valid ID to the designated address.
• Online: Register a user account on the Sichuan Government Affairs Service Website, log in, and submit your application online. You can select the application type and enter your details (such as name and ID number) to track progress.

For in-person applications, bring your valid ID. For mail applications, include a copy of your ID. For online applications, complete identity verification on the Sichuan Government Affairs Service Website before submitting.

Step 3: Fill Out the Application Form

The application form can be obtained at the acceptance point or downloaded from the provincial government portal website. Photocopies are acceptable. Online applicants can fill it out directly on the website. When describing the information you need, be as specific as possible: provide the name, document number, or other characteristic details that will help the authority locate the information.

If your request is unclear, the authority will provide guidance and may ask you to supplement it within 7 working days from receipt, specifying what needs to be corrected and a reasonable deadline. If you fail to supplement without justification, your request may be considered abandoned.

Processing Timelines and Responses

Once a valid request is received, the authority will respond within 20 working days, unless an extension is necessary. Extensions require approval from the head of the information disclosure office and written notice to the applicant, with a maximum extension of another 20 working days. Time spent consulting third parties or other agencies is not counted in the processing period. If supplementation is needed, the response period starts from the date the supplemented application is received.

The authority will respond in various ways depending on the nature of the request:

• If the information can be disclosed, it will be provided or you will be informed of the way, channel, and time to obtain it.
• If the information is not held by the authority, you will be told so with reasons; if the responsible authority is known, its name and contact details will be provided.
• If the request is repetitive, you will be informed that no repeated processing will be made.
• If the information falls under special regulations (e.g., business registration, real estate registration), you will be directed to follow those laws and regulations.

If the volume or frequency of requests is clearly beyond a reasonable scope, the authority may ask for justification. If the justification is unreasonable, the request may be denied; if reasonable but cannot be answered within the statutory period, a delayed response period will be set and communicated.

The authority is not obliged to process or analyze existing information beyond providing it as held. The format of the provided information will be determined based on your request and the actual state of the information; if the requested format poses risks to the information carrier or involves excessive costs, the information may be provided electronically or through other appropriate means, or you may be arranged to inspect or copy it.

According to the regulation, fees for information processing may be charged in accordance with the Measures for the Administration of Information Processing Fees for Government Information Disclosure (Guobanhan [2020] No. 109) and provincial rules.

Additional Tips and Complaints

Before submitting a request, check whether the information is already proactively disclosed through the channels mentioned above. For matters involving petitions, complaints, reports, or suggestions, use dedicated channels such as the Governor's Mailbox, the 12345 online message platform, or disciplinary reporting channels.

If you believe your legitimate rights have been infringed in the process of government information disclosure, you may file a complaint or report with the higher-level administrative organ or the competent department for government information disclosure, or apply for administrative reconsideration or file an administrative lawsuit in accordance with the law.

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.