Published by ChinaMNC · Dongfeng
China Website Certification: What Foreign Founders Need to Know About the HLJ Government Portal's Compliance Record
A practical guide for foreign founders on China's website certification and accessibility evaluation, using the Heilongjiang Provincial Government portal as a case study. Learn about certification validity, evaluation scores, and inspection schedules.
Website Certification in China: A Case Study for Foreign Founders
When setting up an online presence in China, foreign founders often encounter requirements for website certification and accessibility standards. While this article focuses on a government portal, the underlying framework—certification validity periods, evaluation scores, and regular inspections—offers useful lessons for any business operating a website in China. Below, we break down the key details from the Heilongjiang Provincial Government portal's certification record, published on March 5, 2026.
Certification Authorities and Validity
The portal's certification is overseen by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and issued by the Internet Society of China (ISC). For foreign founders, this indicates the two main bodies involved in website identity management: MIIT sets policy, while ISC handles issuance. The certification for both the PC and WAP versions of the site is valid for two years, from March 5, 2026, to March 4, 2028. This two-year cycle is typical for such certifications, meaning businesses should plan for renewal well in advance.
Evaluation Scores: What They Measure
The portal underwent evaluations across several dimensions. For the PC website, the overall score was 85.8. This composite score includes:
- Elderly-friendly evaluation: Self-assessment 100, institutional assessment 82, user assessment 80.
- Accessibility evaluation: Self-assessment 100, institutional assessment 83, user assessment 84.
- Efficiency index: Comprehensiveness 100%, reliability 100%, robustness 100%.
The WAP website received the same overall score of 85.8. Its elderly-friendly evaluation showed self-assessment 100, institutional assessment 83, user assessment 83. Accessibility evaluation: self-assessment 100, institutional assessment 80, user assessment 83. Efficiency index also scored 100% across comprehensiveness, reliability, and robustness.
These scores highlight that while self-assessments are perfect, institutional and user evaluations provide more realistic feedback. Foreign founders should note that self-reported scores are not the only measure; third-party and user feedback matter.
Regular Inspections
The certification includes scheduled inspections. For this portal, inspections are set for September 4, 2026; March 4, 2027; and September 4, 2027. The result for the first inspection (September 4, 2026) is listed as "passed." This indicates that certified websites are subject to periodic reviews to maintain their status. Foreign founders should build compliance checks into their annual calendars.
Certificate and Report
The certification comes with a downloadable report: "Heilongjiang Provincial Government Portal Elderly-friendly and Accessibility Evaluation Report (sealed version)." This suggests that formal documentation is available, which can be useful for demonstrating compliance to partners or authorities.
Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders
While this example is a government site, the principles apply to commercial websites in China:
- Certification is time-bound: Plan for renewal every two years.
- Evaluations are multi-faceted: Prepare for self, institutional, and user assessments.
- Accessibility and elderly-friendly design are assessed: Ensure your site meets these standards, as they are part of the evaluation.
- Regular inspections occur: Maintain compliance continuously, not just at certification.
Foreign founders should consider these factors when launching or updating their China-facing websites. Working with local experts can help navigate the certification process and ensure all requirements are met.
This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Call to action: For assistance with company registration and ongoing compliance in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535.