不动产登记(búdòngchǎn dēngjì): Immovable property registration

The Ministry of Land and Resources is making efforts to ensure all the cities and counties are included on a national registration platform for immovable property by the end of this year, which has drawn a great deal of public attention.

Immovable property registration refers to the ownership of not only real estate but also other immovable property such as land, sea areas and forests.

By the end of 2016, the immovable property registration system included 335 city-level regions and 2,808 county-level regions nationwide. According to officials of the Ministry of Land and Resources, till now, local authorities have issued 14 million immovable property certificates and registered 13 million immovable property certificates.

Officials of the ministry said immovable property registration is not directly related to the introduction of a property tax, but it could effectively support a property tax.

Moreover, the public expects the immovable property registration system to become an effective weapon in the fight against corruption, as it could hopefully expose corrupt officials' illegal gains in the form of immovable property.