China issues first certificates for overseas NGOs

The Chinese government has issued registration certificates for over 30 offices of NGOs from Hong Kong, Taiwan and a number of foreign countries.

A certificate issuing ceremony was held Monday in Beijing where 20 NGOs from outside the Chinese mainland, such as the World Economic Forum and the Paulson Institute, were granted certificates for their Beijing offices.

They are among the first batch of NGOs to secure such certificates from the overseas NGO management office of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, since a new law on overseas NGOs took effect this year.

Prior to Monday's ceremony, a total of 12 NGOs outside the Chinese mainland had received certificates for their offices in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Kathleen Walsh, vice director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Beijing office, which received the certificate Monday, expressed appreciation for the Chinese government's investment in health and poverty reduction, noting that the foundation would also invest more resources in these areas.

Hao Yunhong, director of the overseas NGO management office of the Public Security Ministry, said that public security authorities would provide convenient and efficient registration services for overseas NGOs and protect their legal rights and interests in China in accordance with law, with an open, inclusive and transparent attitude.

China last year adopted a new law stating that overseas NGOs had to secure approval from Chinese authorities before they could operate on the Chinese mainland.

All provincial-level police authorities in China, which are responsible for the registration, are now open for such procedures.