On this issue, I think it can often help for the foreign investor to meet with relevant Govt departments (in their offices or your own), outline your plan, emphasise your track record in China on compliance, and run through the business case. This often removes suspicion from the process, results in a higher level of trust and results in much faster approval and sometimes fewer bureaucratic requirements.

The Govt department gets to listen and understand and outline their issues and concerns directly.

Sometimes too many 'buffers' (law firms, incorporations firms, accountants) can result in higher suspicion and a slower process.

If you adopt that approach, the proposal needs to be mainstream (ie. well clear of restricted investment areas) and you do need to be well briefed by your law firm and accountant. However, having done this on quite a few occasions, it works and can result in positive Govt relationships in areas key to the business.