China continued improving government transparency in 2024, according to a 2025 assessment by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The Center for Studies of National Index of the Rule of Law reviewed all levels of government. It studied practices in 48 State Council departments and 31 provincial-level administrations. Additionally, it evaluated 293 prefecture-level cities and 120 county-level governments. Authorities pushed for public involvement and released more decision-making information than in past years.
Furthermore, the review emphasized democratic governance and scientific policymaking across multiple sectors. Authorities enhanced their approaches to regulating administration and improved social welfare access. They also built stronger online platforms to disclose information more efficiently. The evaluation showed commitment to government transparency in China. This ongoing improvement helped strengthen citizen trust and policy effectiveness.
Among State Council departments, several ranked highest in meeting transparency standards. These included the General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Emergency Management. Other top performers were the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance also stood out. Their consistent efforts reflected broader trends toward better government transparency in China.
At the provincial level, Shanghai and Beijing demonstrated strong performance in 2024. Guangdong and Shandong also appeared at the top of the rankings. Zhejiang, Sichuan, and Anhui maintained high scores throughout the year. Guizhou, Hubei, and Jiangsu completed the list of leading regions. Each of them showed how regional policies advanced government transparency in China.
The report highlighted a rise in public pre-decision disclosures. Notably, 85.42 percent of State Council departments built dedicated sections for such releases. Likewise, 96.77 percent of provincial governments followed this model. At the prefecture and county levels, over 90 percent adopted similar sections. These platforms allowed citizens to access early drafts and explanations before final decisions.
In 2024, almost all levels centralized policy documents online. Each agency developed dedicated pages for publishing administrative normative texts. Additionally, more than 64 percent of State Council departments released drafts with clear explanations. Over 80 percent of provincial governments matched that effort. Most importantly, this expanded digital access reinforced government transparency in China.
Lyu Yanbin from the CASS Law Institute stressed a people-first approach to transparency. He called for clarity, accessibility, and user-friendliness in all public disclosures. Lyu believes users must easily understand and locate the published information. His comments underscore the importance of improving how information reaches the public. That perspective aligns with current transparency goals nationwide.
However, the assessment also identified areas needing more effort. Some governments still fell short in document clarity and update frequency. Gaps remained in real-time publication and citizen feedback opportunities. These challenges could undermine gains in trust and policy support. Thus, continued reforms remain essential to strengthen government transparency in China.
