Last January a new law that regulates the management of foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Chin came into force.

The new legislation provides a distinction between NGOs that want to establish a representative office, and those who want to play only temporary activities. In the first case, it’s required the approval of a Professional Supervision Unit (PSU) and then the NGO’s must be registered by an office of the Public Security Ministry. In the case of temporary activity, it is provided a simplified procedure which does not require the approval of public security offices, in fact, the new law states that the NGOs have to find a Chinese partner to rely on, and filling out forms to inform public security office about the activities they want to execute in China.

The law allows international NGOs to operate in those specific areas suitable to bring benefits to the Chinese welfare, as for example education, science, technology and poverty reduction.

It is strictly forbidden for international NGOs to represent a danger to the security and national unity, for this reason they cannot exercise activities related to civil and political rights, which are considered potentially threatening by the Chinese government. Furthermore, fundraising activities and other politically activities are forbidden.

Finally, today there are thousands of NGOs operating in the country, without any specific regulation. It means that the regulation of the international NGO management, as the Government confirmed, is aimed to fill a legal gap. However, this law imposes very strict controls on the work of foreign NGOs operating in the country and for this reason it has been criticized by non-profit institutions and the international community.