Published by ChinaMNC · Guangyuan

How Foreign Founders Can Access Sichuan Government Information

A practical guide for foreign founders on obtaining government information from Sichuan Province, including proactive disclosure, application procedures, and key contacts.

Accessing Government Information in Sichuan: A Guide for Foreign Founders

For foreign entrepreneurs establishing or operating a company in Sichuan, understanding how to obtain government information is essential for compliance and informed decision-making. This guide, based on the Sichuan Provincial Government's official disclosure guide, explains the channels and procedures available.

Proactive Disclosure: Information Available Without Request

The Sichuan Provincial Government proactively publishes a wide range of information in accordance with the Regulations on Open Government Information (State Council Order No. 711). This information is made available to the public through multiple channels and is updated regularly.

Key categories of proactively disclosed information include:

• Government structure and leadership: Provincial government leaders and their responsibilities, the setup of government agencies, main duties, 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 significant official activities.
• Planning and statistics: Sichuan's 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.
• Major livelihood issues: Policies and measures on poverty alleviation, education, healthcare, social security, and employment promotion; emergency plans, early warnings, and responses to public emergencies; 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.

These disclosures follow the principles of fairness, legality, and convenience, and are expanded in line with higher-level directives and actual needs.

Where to Find Proactively Disclosed Information

Foreign founders can access this information through several official channels:

• Sichuan Provincial People's Government Gazette
• Sichuan Provincial People's Government Portal Website
• Official social media accounts: "Sichuan Release" on Sina Weibo and WeChat, and the "Sichuan Provincial People's Government Website" Toutiao account.
• Provincial government press conferences
• Other media: Radio, television, newspapers, and other publications.

Additionally, government information is available at the Sichuan Provincial Government Government Services and Public Resources Trading Service Center, the Sichuan Provincial Archives, and the Sichuan Provincial Library, which serve as information access and inquiry venues.

Information in the proactive disclosure scope is published within 20 working days from the date of formation or change, unless otherwise provided by laws or regulations.

Requesting Information: Application Procedures

If the information you need is not proactively disclosed, you can file an application for government information disclosure. The General Office of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government accepts applications submitted to the provincial government and its General Office. The Provincial Government Information Disclosure Office handles the specific matters.

Before applying, it is advisable to first check the proactive disclosure channels. If the information is not available there, follow these steps:

1. Identify the Correct Agency

Determine which government body holds the information you need. You can visit the Sichuan Provincial People's Government Portal Website and click on "Agency Functions" to learn about the responsibilities and setup of provincial administrative agencies. Then, submit your application to the appropriate agency through its designated channels.

For example:

• For information on approval of major construction projects or feasibility study reports, 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 and its housing and urban-rural development department.

2. Submission Methods

The General Office accepts applications submitted in person, by mail, or online.

• In person: Visit the government information disclosure application reception point at the Provincial Government Services Center. Collect and fill out the "Government Information Disclosure Application Form" (the Form) and submit it on the spot. Bring a valid ID.
• By mail: Send the completed Form along with a copy of your valid ID to the address provided.
• Online: Register a user account on the Sichuan Government Services Website, complete identity verification, log in, and submit your application online. You can track the progress after submission.

The Form can be obtained at the reception point or downloaded from the provincial government portal website. Photocopies are acceptable. For online applications, fill out the form electronically.

3. Application Content

Describe the information you need clearly and specifically. It is recommended to provide the name, document number, or other characteristic details that will help the agency locate the information.

If the application content is unclear, the agency will provide guidance and notify you within 7 working days to make corrections, specifying what needs to be corrected and a reasonable deadline. If you fail to correct without justified reason, the application will be considered withdrawn.

4. Processing and Response

The agency will respond within 20 working days from receipt of the application. If an extension is needed, the head of the information disclosure office may approve an extension of up to 20 working days, and you will be notified in writing. Time spent consulting third parties or other agencies is not counted in the processing period.

Possible responses include:

• If the information is disclosable, it will be provided or you will be informed of the manner, channel, and time to obtain it.
• If the information is not within the agency's responsibility, you will be informed and, if possible, given the name and contact details of the responsible agency.
• If the request is repetitive, you will be informed that no repeated processing will be done.
• For information such as business registration or real estate registration data, you will be directed to follow relevant laws and administrative regulations.

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

The agency is not obligated to process or analyze existing information beyond providing it as is. Information will be provided in the requested form if possible; if that poses risks to the information carrier or incurs excessive costs, electronic data or other appropriate forms will be used, or you may be arranged to inspect or copy the information on site.

Information processing fees 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 regulations.

Other Channels for Specific Matters

For petitions, complaints, reports, inquiries, or suggestions, use dedicated channels such as the Governor's Mailbox, 12345 online message, or disciplinary inspection reporting, rather than the information disclosure application process.

If you believe your lawful 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.