china_hall_of_people_840_560_100.JPG (Photo : Reuters )
A draft bill on international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) was presented on the first day of the bimonthly session of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee scheduled from Dec. 22-28, 2014.
The bill aims to create a better environment for overseas NGOs to operate within the mainland, and follows on from the welcoming comments of Vice-Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping, who said that the Chinese government is open to the activities of such bodies.
It is estimated that hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars are brought into China through these NGOs, who oversee or collaborate on projects in more than 20 different sectors.
Prominent academic Wang Cunkui added that advanced technology and management experience have also accompanied the NGOs.
At the time of the bimonthly session, it is believed that around 1,000 NGOs are established in the east Asian country, while another 3,000 to 5,000 contribute temporarily to select initiatives.
While the content of the draft proposal was not shared with the media, key figures in the China-based NGO sector are anticipating the prospective changes. Information from the vice-minister of public security indicates that the law will lead to greater regulation, protection of the legal rights and interests of NGOs, and, in keeping with Cheng's sentiment, will facilitate further engagement with NGOs from other countries by the Chinese government.
According to Bao Yugang, senior program director with the U.S.-based NGO AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the legal status-attainment process for overseas NGOs is currently restrictive, with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Save the Children among the limited number of organizations that have been successful.
Bao explained: "More than 90 percent of overseas NGOs couldn't get registered and operate in a 'gray area'."
