Published by ChinaMNC · Huidong

Sichuan Publishes 15th Five-Year Plan and Supporting Spatial, Sectoral Plans: What Foreign Founders Need to Know

Sichuan's government portal has released a series of 15th Five-Year Plan documents and spatial plans covering 2021-2035. For foreign founders registering a company in China, these plans signal policy priorities and regulatory context in Sichuan, though they do not change company registration procedures.

What the Sichuan Government Publication Means for Foreign Founders

The Sichuan provincial government's official information disclosure page now lists a range of planning documents, including the Sichuan Province 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (dated 2026-04-13), the Chengdu Metropolitan Area Integration Development 15th Five-Year Plan (dated 2026-09-09), and multiple sectoral plans for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030). These documents set out the province's development direction but do not themselves alter the legal steps for registering a foreign-invested enterprise (FIE) in Sichuan. Below we summarize what is in the source and what it means for your China company setup.

Key planning documents published

• Sichuan Province 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (published 2026-04-13).
• Chengdu Metropolitan Area Integration Development 15th Five-Year Plan (published 2026-09-09).
• Sichuan Province Territorial Spatial Plan (2021–2035) (published 2024-04-11).
• Sichuan Tianfu New Area Territorial Spatial Plan (2021–2035) (published 2025-12-31).
• Chengdu Plain Economic Zone Territorial Spatial Plan (2021–2035) and four other special plans, issued by the Sichuan Department of Natural Resources (notice dated 2024-11-04).
• Sectoral 15th Five-Year Plan documents and approvals, including for water security, public services, beautiful Sichuan construction, traditional Chinese medicine development, sports development, natural resources protection and utilization, health development, geological disaster prevention, market regulation modernization, and housing and urban-rural development.

The page also lists older plans, such as the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-03-17), the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-02-15), and the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-01-28), as well as historical land-use plans (1997-2010 and 2006-2020). For foreign founders, the current 15th Five-Year Plan documents are the most relevant for understanding upcoming policy priorities.

What this means for company registration

The source page is a government information disclosure listing, not a set of registration rules. It does not contain details on entity types, registered capital, documents, or licensing. Therefore, foreign founders should treat these plans as background context on Sichuan's development goals, not as a guide to the registration process. For actual registration, you will still follow the standard FIE procedures: choose an entity form (e.g., wholly foreign-owned enterprise, Sino-foreign equity joint venture, or branch), obtain a name pre-approval, file with the local Administration for Market Regulation, and complete tax, customs, and foreign exchange registrations as applicable.

Spatial plans and business location

The territorial spatial plans (2021–2035) for Sichuan, Tianfu New Area, and the Chengdu Plain Economic Zone indicate long-term land-use and development frameworks. For a foreign founder, these plans can inform where to establish operations—for example, if your business aligns with prioritized zones—but they do not create special registration channels. The Chengdu Metropolitan Area Integration Development 15th Five-Year Plan may signal closer coordination among cities in the Chengdu region, which could affect logistics or market access over time, but no specific incentives or registration changes are stated in the source.

Sectoral plans and licensing

The sectoral plans listed—such as those for traditional Chinese medicine, health, sports, and market regulation—may indicate areas of policy focus. However, the source does not specify any licensing requirements or restrictions for foreign investment. Founders in regulated sectors should separately verify sector-specific licensing with the relevant authorities; the planning documents alone do not substitute for that process.

Practical steps for foreign founders

Based on the source, there are no new registration steps introduced by these plans. To register a company in Sichuan, you should:

• Confirm your business scope and whether it falls under the negative list for foreign investment (not detailed in the source).
• Select an entity type and prepare constitutional documents.
• Submit registration materials to the local market regulation bureau.
• Complete post-registration filings for tax, banking, and foreign exchange.

The planning documents may help you understand Sichuan's long-term direction, but they are not a substitute for legal or tax advice. Always consult a professional for your specific situation.

Conclusion

The Sichuan government's publication of 15th Five-Year Plan and spatial planning documents provides context on the province's development priorities for 2026–2030 and beyond. For foreign founders, these plans do not change the core company registration process, but they can inform strategic decisions about where and how to operate in Sichuan. For hands-on assistance with registering and running a company in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.

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