Published by ChinaMNC · Shuangliu

A Foreign Founder’s Guide to Accessing Government Information in Sichuan

Practical guidance for foreign founders on how to request and obtain government information from the Sichuan Provincial People’s Government and its General Office, based on the official government information disclosure guide.

Why Government Information Matters for Foreign Founders

For foreign founders setting up or operating a company in Sichuan, access to official government information can clarify regulations, policies, and administrative processes. The Sichuan Provincial People’s Government and its General Office have published a guide explaining how citizens, legal persons, and other organizations—including foreign-invested enterprises—can obtain government information. This article summarizes the key points from that guide, focusing on what foreign founders need to know to navigate the system effectively.

Proactive Disclosure: Information Available Without Request

The government proactively discloses certain categories of information to ensure transparency and support public participation. Foreign founders can access this information without filing a formal request. Key categories include:

• Leadership and structure: Provincial government leaders and their divisions of responsibility, the setup and main duties of government bodies, and the provincial government’s working 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 public events.
• Planning and statistics: Provincial economic and social development plans, special plans, regional plans, related policies, and national economic and social statistical information.
• Administrative actions: 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 projects: Approval and implementation status of major construction projects.
• Livelihood issues: Policies and measures on poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, social security, and employment promotion; emergency plans, early warnings, and responses to public emergencies; and supervision and inspection of environmental protection, public health, work safety, food and drug safety, and product quality.
• Personnel matters: Provincial government personnel appointments and removals, and civil servant recruitment.
• Other information: Any other government information that laws, regulations, rules, and relevant national provisions require to be proactively disclosed.

Proactively disclosed information is made available within 20 working days from the date it is formed or changed, unless otherwise provided by laws or regulations.

Where to Find Proactively Disclosed Information

The government uses multiple channels to disseminate information. Foreign founders can consult:

• The Sichuan Provincial People’s Government Gazette.
• The Sichuan Provincial People’s Government portal website.
• Official social media accounts, including “Sichuan Release” on Sina Weibo and WeChat, and the “Sichuan Provincial People’s Government Website” Toutiao account.
• Provincial government press conferences.
• Other media such as radio, television, and newspapers.
• Designated reading venues: the Sichuan Provincial Government Government Services and Public Resources Trading Service Center, the Sichuan Provincial Archives, and the Sichuan Provincial Library.

Requesting Information That Is Not Proactively Disclosed

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. The General Office is the body that handles such requests, and the Provincial Government Information Disclosure Office specifically manages these matters.

Step 1: Identify the Correct Authority

Before submitting a request, determine which government body holds the information. Visit the provincial government portal website and check the “Institutional Functions” section to learn about the responsibilities and structure of provincial administrative bodies. Then, based on the type of information you need, submit your request to the appropriate authority through its designated channels. For example:

• For information on major construction project approvals, feasibility study reports, and similar matters, apply to the development and reform department.
• 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 where you are located or its housing and urban-rural development department.

Step 2: Submit Your Request

The General Office accepts requests submitted in person, by mail, or online. Here’s how:

• In person: Go to the government information disclosure request reception point at the Provincial Government Services Center. You can obtain the “Government Information Disclosure Request Form” on-site, fill it out, and submit it in person. Bring a valid identity document.
• By mail: Send the completed request form along with a copy of your valid identity document.
• Online: Register a user account on the Sichuan Government Services Network, log in, and submit your request online. Select the application type and enter your information, such as name and ID number, to check the progress.

For online requests, you must register on the Sichuan Government Services Network and complete identity verification before submitting.

Step 3: Describe the Information Clearly

Your request should clearly identify the information you seek. It is recommended to provide the name, document number, or other characteristic descriptions that will help the authority locate the information. If your request is unclear, the authority will provide guidance and, within 7 working days of receiving your request, notify you once of the specific items that need clarification and a reasonable deadline for correction. If you fail to correct without justified reason, your request will be considered abandoned.

Step 4: Processing and Response

The authority will respond within 20 working days of receiving your request, unless it can respond on the spot. If an extension is needed, the head of the government information disclosure office may approve an extension of up to 20 working days and will notify you in writing. Time spent consulting third parties or other agencies is not counted in the processing period. If correction is needed, the response period starts from the date the corrected request is received.

If the information can be disclosed, the authority will provide it or inform you of the manner, channel, and time for obtaining it. If the information is not within the authority’s responsibility, it will inform you and, if possible, provide the name and contact details of the responsible agency. If you make repeated requests for the same information after a response has been given, the authority will inform you that it will not process the request again. For information such as business registration or real estate registration materials, special provisions in laws and administrative regulations apply.

If your request volume or frequency明显 exceeds a reasonable range, the authority may ask you to explain the reasons. If the reasons are unreasonable, it may decline to process; if reasonable but the response cannot be made within the statutory period, it will set a reasonable delayed response period and notify you.

The authority will provide information in the form you request, unless doing so would endanger the security of the information carrier or incur excessively high costs. In such cases, it may provide the information in electronic form or another appropriate manner, or arrange for you to inspect or copy it.

Fees and Remedies

In accordance with the Regulations, the authority charges information processing fees according to the “Measures for the Administration of Government Information Disclosure Information Processing Fees” (Guobanhan [2020] No. 109) and provincial rules. If you believe your lawful rights have been infringed, you may complain or report to the higher-level administrative organ or the government information disclosure supervisory department, or apply for administrative reconsideration or file an administrative lawsuit.

Other Channels for Specific Issues

For matters involving petitions, complaints, reports, consultations, or suggestions, use dedicated channels such as the Governor’s Mailbox, the 12345 online message board, or disciplinary inspection reporting, rather than the government information disclosure request process.

Key Takeaways for Foreign Founders

Understanding the government information disclosure system can help foreign founders stay informed about regulations, policies, and administrative decisions that affect their business. Proactively disclosed information is readily available online and through official channels. When specific information is needed, follow the request process carefully, identify the correct authority, and describe your request clearly. This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.