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Highlights of institutional restructuring plan
(Xinhua) Updated: 2008-03-15 21:54 BEIJING -- Chinese lawmakers on Saturday endorsed a State Council proposal for institutional overhaul of the central government, which involves the establishment of "super ministries" concerning energy, transport, industry and environmental protection. The First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, passed a resolution to adopt the proposal after hearing and deliberating the explanation made by State Councilor Hua Jianmin, also secretary-general of the Cabinet. Following are the highlights of the State Council proposal for institutional restructuring: SUPER MINISTRIES The target for this round of government reshuffle is to explore a "super ministry" system to streamline government department functions, and to form some "bigger departments" to strengthen macro-economic regulation, maintain national security of energy supply, integrate information development and industrialization. It is also aimed at streamlining the country's transport system by setting up the ministry of transport to annex civil aviation and postal services, and urban passenger transport management of the Ministry of Construction. The State Environmental Protection Administration will be elevated to be ministry of environmental protection, and the Ministry of Health empowered with the function to oversee food and drug safety. The State Council now has 27 ministries and commissions apart from its General Office after the reshuffle, compared with the previous 28. MACRO-REGULATION The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will focus on macro-regulation and fade out from involvement in micromanagement of the economy and reduce its examination and approval of specific projects. The Ministry of Finance shall reform and improve its management over budget and taxation. The People's Bank of China shall strengthen the system of monetary policies, and improve the mechanism of exchange rate formation. The NDRC, the Ministry of Finance and the People's Bank of China shall establish and improve mechanisms for coordination, and form a improved macroregulation system. |
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