Translated by Claude, edited by Sinocism.com

Source: Xinhua | September 10, 2026

The General Office of the State Council recently issued a Notice on Work Related to Strengthening Efforts to Address Payment Delays Affecting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (hereinafter the “Notice”), setting out arrangements for dealing with the problem in accordance with law.

新华社北京9月10日电　日前，国务院办公厅印发《关于加强中小企业回款难问题治理有关工作的通知》（以下简称《通知》），对依法治理中小企业回款难问题作出部署。

First, improve industry rules on the payment of accounts. Authorities responsible for each industry will incorporate timely-payment requirements into industry management and strengthen implementation. They will formulate and improve rules governing settlement and payment in their respective sectors, clearly specifying such key elements as when payment terms begin, payment methods and procedures, standards and deadlines for inspection and acceptance of goods and services (or final settlement upon project completion), and maximum payment periods. A timely-payment initiative for large enterprises will be issued, encouraging large companies—especially industry leaders—to take the lead in committing to pay SMEs in cash within 60 days of delivery of goods, projects, or services and to honor that commitment.

一是健全行业账款支付规则。各行业主管部门将及时支付账款要求嵌入行业管理并强化落实。制定完善本行业领域结算支付管理规定，明确账期起算节点、账款支付方式及流程、货物和服务检验验收（或工程竣工结算）标准及期限、最长付款期限等关键要素。发布大型企业及时支付倡议，引导大型企业特别是龙头企业带头发布并践行自货物、工程、服务交付之日起60日内以现金方式向中小企业支付账款的承诺。

Second, strengthen supervision of payment practices by large enterprises. Establish and improve mechanisms for monitoring their accounts payable. Large companies that deliberately extend payment periods will be jointly summoned by multiple departments and ordered to rectify the problem. Strictly enforce the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, and punish in accordance with laws and regulations egregious cases in which large enterprises abuse their dominant position to deliberately lengthen payment terms. Refine disclosure rules for listed companies, requiring those whose accounts payable reach a specified scale to disclose their principal payment methods, average payment periods, issuance of commercial bills, and use of electronic payment instruments. Central State-Owned Enterprises and other state-owned enterprises should set an example in making timely payments: Central State-Owned Enterprises must pay SMEs entirely in cash and maintain a reasonable proportion of cash payments to large enterprises.

二是加强大型企业支付行为监管。建立健全大型企业账款监测机制。对故意拉长账期的大型企业，多部门开展联合约谈并督促整改。严格反不正当竞争执法，对大型企业滥用优势地位故意拉长账期的恶劣行为，查实后依法依规处罚。细化完善上市公司信息披露规则，要求应付账款达到一定规模的上市公司披露主要账款支付方式、平均账期、商业汇票和电子凭证开立情况等事项。发挥央企国企及时支付表率作用，中央企业对中小企业全部采用现金支付，对大型企业保持合理的现金支付比例。

Third, regulate the management of non-cash payment instruments. Shorten the maximum term for electronic payment instruments to six months. Electronic payment-instrument service platforms may not issue new instruments with terms longer than six months, and commercial banks and commercial factoring companies may not provide financing against such instruments. Impose strict oversight on service platforms, which must meet all compliance requirements and connect their operating data to the Shanghai Commercial Paper Exchange. The exchange will monitor, across institutions and on a comprehensive basis, large enterprises’ issuance of commercial bills and electronic payment instruments.

三是规范管理非现金支付工具。压减电子凭证最长付款期限至6个月，电子凭证服务平台不得新开立付款期限超过6个月的电子凭证，商业银行、商业保理公司不得为付款期限超过6个月的电子凭证提供融资。从严监管电子凭证服务平台，电子凭证服务平台要严格落实各项合规要求并将经营数据接入上海票据交易所，由上海票据交易所跨机构、全口径监测大型企业商业汇票和电子凭证开立情况。

Fourth, improve the transmission of funds and strengthen financing support. Government procurement projects must use cash for all payments, and timely payment will be included in procurement oversight. Supervision of funds for government-invested projects will be strengthened; project owners should prioritize cash payments and encourage general contractors to promptly pay subcontractors in cash at no less than the corresponding proportion. Large enterprises will be supported in using loans and bond financing to replace accounts payable so that they can promptly pay cash to upstream and downstream SMEs.

四是强化资金传导效能和融资支持。政府采购项目全额采用现金支付，将及时支付情况纳入政府采购项目监管范围；加强政府投资项目资金监管，业主单位优先采用现金支付并推动项目总承包单位及时向分包单位支付不低于同等比例的现金。支持大型企业通过贷款、发债融资置换应付账款，及时向上下游中小企业支付现金。

The Notice stresses that all regions and relevant departments must strengthen coordination, improve vertical linkages, assign responsibility, and press ahead on a sustained basis. Guidance and correction must be combined with law enforcement and accountability in order to achieve an overall improvement in the problem of payment delays affecting SMEs and foster a healthy ecosystem in which large, medium-sized, and small enterprises develop in an integrated, mutually beneficial, and win-win manner.

《通知》强调，各地区各有关部门要加强工作配合、强化上下联动，压实责任持续推进，坚持引导纠正与执法追责并举，推动中小企业回款难问题整体好转，营造大中小企业融通发展、互利共赢的良好生态。