Published by ChinaMNC · Qingdao

China's Policy Continuity: What the 90th Anniversary of the Long March Means for Foreign Founders

A high-level Communist Party meeting reaffirmed China's commitment to high-quality development, economic growth, and stability. For foreign founders, this signals policy continuity and a continued focus on creating a predictable environment for business and investment.

Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders

On October 22, 2026, China held a major meeting in Beijing to mark the 90th anniversary of the Long March. While the event itself is political, the messages delivered have implications for the business climate. For foreign founders looking to register and operate a company in China, the key takeaways are:

• Policy continuity is emphasized: The meeting stressed adherence to the Party's leadership and the current ideological framework, indicating that the existing policy direction will remain stable. This stability is crucial for long-term business planning.
• High-quality development is a priority: The leadership reiterated the commitment to high-quality development, which includes improving the business environment and promoting common prosperity. This suggests continued support for economic growth and innovation.
• Balancing development and security: The meeting highlighted the need to coordinate development and security. For businesses, this means that while opportunities exist, compliance with regulations will remain important.
• No immediate changes to company registration: The meeting did not announce new policies specifically targeting foreign investment or company registration. However, the overall emphasis on stability and development is positive for the business climate.

In summary, the meeting reinforces the existing policy framework, which is beneficial for foreign founders seeking a predictable environment for their China operations. The focus on high-quality development and common prosperity may lead to continued improvements in the business environment, but also to stricter enforcement of regulations in areas such as labor, tax, and data security.

Understanding the Context

The meeting commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March, a pivotal event in Chinese history. President Xi Jinping delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of learning from history to forge ahead. He outlined the "five musts" for the new journey:

• Uphold the Party's ideals and purpose and rely on the people.
• Promote high-quality development and common prosperity.
• Carry out great struggles with historical characteristics and balance development and security.
• Build a world-class military.
• Strengthen Party leadership and discipline.

These points, while broad, reflect the government's priorities. For foreign founders, the emphasis on high-quality development and common prosperity indicates that China continues to focus on sustainable and inclusive growth, which could translate into support for certain industries and stricter regulations in others.

What This Means for Your China Company Registration

Foreign founders often wonder how political events affect their ability to do business in China. Here's what to consider:

1. Policy Stability

The meeting underscored the importance of Party leadership and ideological consistency. This suggests that the regulatory environment for foreign investment will remain stable, with no sudden shifts in policy. The existing framework, including the Foreign Investment Law and negative list, will likely continue to govern market access.

2. Business Environment

The commitment to high-quality development implies ongoing efforts to improve the business environment, such as streamlining registration procedures, enhancing intellectual property protection, and promoting fair competition. Foreign founders can expect continued facilitation of company establishment, though they should also be prepared for increased scrutiny in areas related to national security and public interest.

3. Compliance

The emphasis on balancing development and security means that compliance with laws and regulations will remain a key aspect of operating in China. This includes labor laws, tax regulations, data security, and environmental standards. Foreign founders should ensure they understand and adhere to these requirements to avoid disruptions.

4. Sector-Specific Implications

The focus on common prosperity may lead to policies that encourage investment in areas such as technology, green energy, and rural development, while potentially restricting speculative or high-risk sectors. Foreign founders should align their business plans with these priorities to benefit from potential incentives.

Practical Steps for Registration

If you are considering registering a company in China, here are the general steps:

1. Choose the entity type: Common options include a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE), a joint venture (JV), or a representative office (RO). Each has different requirements and implications.
2. Determine business scope: Your business activities must fall within the allowed scope under the negative list. Some sectors require special licenses.
3. Prepare documents: Typically, you need to provide notarized and authenticated incorporation documents, a bank reference letter, and identification for legal representatives.
4. Register with the market supervision administration: Submit the application online and obtain the business license.
5. Post-registration steps: This includes carving company seals, opening a bank account, and registering with the tax and customs authorities.

While the process is standardized, having local expertise can help navigate the nuances and ensure compliance.

Conclusion

The 90th anniversary meeting reaffirmed China's commitment to stability and development. For foreign founders, this means a predictable business environment with continued opportunities, provided they stay compliant and align with national priorities. As always, consulting with professionals is advisable to navigate the specifics of company registration and operation.

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.