Published by ChinaMNC · Mao

Sichuan’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Key Spatial Plans: A Guide for Foreign Founders

A concise overview of Sichuan Province’s publicly listed plans and policy documents for 2021–2035, including the 15th Five-Year Plan and Chengdu metropolitan integration, to help foreign founders understand the planning framework for company registration and operations in China.

Why Sichuan’s Planning Documents Matter to Foreign Founders

Foreign founders setting up a company in China often encounter provincial planning documents when choosing a location, applying for permits, or assessing long-term market access. Sichuan Province publishes a range of plans and policy documents through its government information disclosure platform. The source page organizes these documents into categories such as policies and regulations, normative documents, and provincial departmental normative documents, with a section attributed to the Provincial Development and Reform Commission listing 24 items.

This article summarizes the types of documents listed on that page and explains how they may relate to company registration and operations. It relies only on the titles and dates shown in the source.

Five-Year Plans for Sichuan’s Economic and Social Development

The page lists successive five-year plans for Sichuan’s national economic and social development:

• 15th Five-Year Plan — titled “四川省国民经济和社会发展第十五个五年规划纲要,” dated 2026-04-13.
• 14th Five-Year Plan and 2035 Long-Range Objectives — titled “四川省国民经济和社会发展第十四个五年规划和二〇三五年远景目标纲要,” dated 2021-03-17.
• 13th Five-Year Plan — dated 2016-02-15.
• 12th Five-Year Plan — dated 2011-01-28.

For foreign founders, these documents indicate the province’s medium-term development priorities. However, the source page provides only titles and dates, not the full text or specific policy measures. Founders should consult the full documents or professional advisers before making decisions based on them.

Spatial and Land-Use Planning

The page also lists territorial spatial plans and related notices:

• Sichuan Tianfu New Area Territorial Spatial Plan (2021–2035) — dated 2025-12-31.
• Notice from the Sichuan Provincial Department of Natural Resources on issuing five special plans, including the Chengdu Plain Economic Zone Territorial Spatial Plan (2021–2035) — dated 2024-11-04.
• Sichuan Provincial Territorial Spatial Plan (2021–2035) — dated 2024-04-11.
• Anning River Basin Territorial Spatial Plan (2022–2035) — dated 2022-11-22.
• Sichuan Provincial Territorial Spatial Ecological Restoration Plan (2021–2035) — dated 2022-07-08.
• Notice of the Sichuan Provincial People’s Government on issuing the Sichuan Provincial Main Functional Zone Plan — dated 2013-04-16.
• Sichuan Provincial Overall Land Use Plan (2006–2020) — dated 2010-02-23.
• Sichuan Provincial Overall Land Use Plan (1997–2010) — dated 1999-11-15.

These plans may affect where businesses can locate facilities or obtain land-use rights. The source does not provide details on zoning rules or approval procedures, so founders should verify requirements with local authorities.

Regional Integration and Economic Zone Plans

Several plans focus on regional coordination and economic zones:

• Chengdu Metropolitan Area Integration Development 15th Five-Year Plan — dated 2026-09-09.
• Chengdu Metropolitan Area Development Plan — dated 2021-11-29.
• Outline of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Economic Circle Construction Plan, issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council — dated 2021-10-21.
• 14th Five-Year Plan documents for the Chengdu Plain Economic Zone, Northwest Sichuan Ecological Demonstration Zone, Panxi Economic Zone, South Sichuan Economic Zone, and Northeast Sichuan Economic Zone — all dated 2021-06-09.
• 13th Five-Year Plan documents for the Chengdu Plain Economic Zone (2018 revision) and other plans — dated 2019-01-25; and for the Northwest Sichuan Ecological Economic Zone — dated 2016-09-02.

These documents suggest a framework for regional development that may influence infrastructure, industrial policy, and market integration. Foreign founders evaluating locations within Sichuan may find it useful to understand these regional groupings, but the source page does not specify incentives or regulatory changes.

Sectoral and Social Plans Under the 15th Five-Year Plan

The page lists numerous sectoral plans and government approvals, mostly dated in 2026:

• Water Security Guarantee 15th Five-Year Plan — government approval dated 2026-10-09.
• Public Services 15th Five-Year Plan — government approval dated 2026-10-09.
• Beautiful Sichuan Construction 15th Five-Year Plan — dated 2026-10-09.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine Development 15th Five-Year Plan — government approval dated 2026-10-08.
• Persons with Disabilities Protection and Development 15th Five-Year Plan — dated 2026-09-21.
• Sports Development 15th Five-Year Plan — government approval dated 2026-09-21.
• Natural Resources Protection and Utilization 15th Five-Year Plan — dated 2026-09-17.
• Health Development 15th Five-Year Plan — dated 2026-09-11.
• Geological Disaster Prevention and Control 15th Five-Year Plan — dated 2026-09-11.
• Market Regulation Modernization 15th Five-Year Plan — government approval dated 2026-09-11.
• Housing and Urban-Rural Development High-Quality Development 15th Five-Year Plan — dated 2026-08-31.

These plans cover areas that may affect business operations, such as public services, health, market regulation, and infrastructure. However, the source provides only titles and approval dates, not substantive policy details.

Historical and Cultural Protection Plans

The page also includes government approvals for various historical and cultural protection plans:

• Luzhou Historical and Cultural City Protection Plan (2025–2035) — approval dated 2026-08-05.
• Mianzhu Historical and Cultural City Protection Plan (2023–2035) — approval dated 2026-07-29.
• Protection Plans for Enyang Historical and Cultural Town in Enyang District, Bazhong City, and five other historical and cultural towns and villages — approval dated 2026-07-12.
• Mengding Mountain Scenic Area Master Plan (2025–2035) — approval dated 2026-06-22.
• Banyue Mountain Cliff Sculptures Protection Plan — approval dated 2026-05-24.
• Laojun Mountain Scenic Area Master Plan (2025–2035) — approval dated 2026-05-20.
• Protection Plans for Aiyè Historical and Cultural Town in Zigong City and four other historical and cultural towns — approval dated 2026-05-06.
• Jiange Historical and Cultural City Protection Plan (2025–2035) — approval dated 2026-04-24.
• Tongjiang Historical and Cultural City Protection Plan (2024–2035) — approval dated 2026-04-24.

These approvals may be relevant for businesses involved in tourism, construction, or cultural projects, as they could impose restrictions or create opportunities in specific areas. The source does not detail the content of these plans.

Local Jurisdictions Listed

The page includes a list of local jurisdictions: Chengdu, Zigong, Panzhihua, Luzhou, Deyang, Mianyang, Guangyuan, Suining, Neijiang, Leshan, Nanchong, Yibin, Guang’an, Dazhou, Bazhong, Ya’an, Meishan, Ziyang, Aba Prefecture, Garzê Prefecture, and Liangshan Prefecture. This list may help founders identify administrative areas for registration or local compliance, but the source provides no further details.

Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders

The documents listed are official provincial plans and approvals. They signal the existence of a planning framework but do not themselves constitute legal or tax advice. Foreign founders should:

• Consult the full text of relevant plans, not just titles, before making location or investment decisions.
• Verify current registration and operational requirements with local authorities or professional advisers.
• Recognize that plans may be updated or superseded; the dates shown indicate publication or approval dates, not necessarily effective periods.

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 company registration and operations in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp or WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.