Opinion: Relying on Governance to Drive Economic Growth

China’s goal of improving its business environment has just gotten a shot in the arm. This month, the General Office of the State Council will conduct on-site inspections related to the business environment in 20 provincial-level regions including Beijing, Hebei and Shanxi. According to a message on the central government’s website, the office is specifically asking whether businesses have encountered discrimination or restrictions in bidding and government procurement processes based on factors such as location of registration and ownership, or even cases of designated suppliers. It also inquires whether businesses have faced arbitrary charges, fines, allocations, or instances of corruption by relevant units and personnel. If such situations exist, feedback can be provided on the State Council’s “Internet+ Inspection” platform. In recent years, the “Internet+ Inspection” platform of the State Council has become a powerful tool for improving the business environment.