China issues three types of passports, namely diplomatic passports, official passports and ordinary passports. Diplomatic passports are mainly used for diplomatics, consuls, and heads of state and heads of state who carry out state activities, while official passports are provided for state officials, including non-diplomatic staff and their families in embassies (consulates) abroad, and ordinary passports are divided into two kinds, the former is mainly for graduate students, students, visiting scholars and engineering and technical personnel sent by the state, and the latter is used by foreign nationals who go to foreign countries or travel abroad for private affairs.
However, as far as China's leading cadres, especially those at and above the department level, going abroad is not an easy task. According to the "Notice on Further Strengthening the Management and Supervision of Leading Cadres Going Abroad (Outside the Territory)", it is clearly stipulated that Party members and cadres at or above the county (department) level who go abroad (outside the territory) for private purposes must strictly implement the relevant regulations, and shall not delegate examination and approval authority without authorization or in disguise.
The focus of the review includes political performance and clean government, and Party members and cadres who are not allowed to leave the country by law or who are suspected of serious violations of discipline and law must not be allowed to leave the country (outside the territory). Some units have gone a step further and demanded that cadres at or above the department level hand in "passports for personal reasons" and that the units should carry out unified and centralized management.
The objects of the main restrictions fall into two categories. The first is that those who wield actual or financial power, such as top bank executives, need to ensure that funds are not misappropriated and fled. The second is high-level technical professionals, who may face personal and external risks when they go abroad because of the confidential information in their hands. These restrictions are both for *** and for personal safety.
For the heads of state-owned enterprises, state-owned banks and public institutions, at the department level (including deputy departments) and deputy department levels, as well as personnel below the section level, different regulations need to be followed when going abroad. Section-level cadres and below need to report to the competent unit and obtain approval, while "department-level" and "deputy department-level" personnel need the approval of their superiors when they are on the job, and there is no restriction after retirement. However, for the "main department" level and above, whether they are in office or retired, they are restricted from going abroad.
Special groups such as personnel of the public security, border inspection, and armed police forces, as well as personnel from scientific research institutions or universities, must obtain the approval of the organization department of the unit, province and city before they can leave the country. Public servants who go abroad must submit an application to the foreign affairs department of their unit in accordance with the procedures, and it can only be implemented after approval.
The purpose of this set of restrictions is to protect against possible risks.