China launches sweeping institutional restructuring of government
11/3/2008 16:52
Chinese lawmakers will this afternoon deliberate a State Council proposal
for institutional restructuring of the government, which involves the
installation of "super ministries" on energy, transportation, industries and
environment protection.
State Councilor Hua Jianmin, also Secretary General
of the cabinet, is to make an explanation on the plan at the First Session of
the 11th National People's Congress (NPC).
Following are the highlights of
his report distributed to journalists before the meeting:
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
transportation system by setting up the ministry of transport to annex civil
aviation and postal services, and urban public transportation management of the
Ministry of Construction.
The State Environmental Protection Administration
will be elevated to be ministry of environment protection, and the Ministry of
Health empowered with the function to oversee food and drug safety.
The State
Council will have 27 ministries and commissions apart from the General Office
after the reshuffle, compared with the present 28.
MACRO-REGULATION
To
form a scientific, authoritative and effective macroregulation system by
reasonably rearranging government functions for macroregulating
departments,
-- 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 approvals 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.
NATIONAL
ENERGY COMMISSION
To strengthen the government management on the energy
sector, a high-level national energy commission is to be established, with a
national bureau of energy set up as its working office under the NDRC.
The
new bureau will integrate the NDRC's functions on energy management, the
functions of the National Energy Leading Group and the functions of the
Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense on nuclear
power management.
MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND INFORMATION
The new ministry of
industry and information will integrate the NDRC's functions on industry and
trade management, the functions of the Commission of Science, Technology and
Industry for National Defense except that on nuclear power management, and the
functions of the Ministry of Information Industry and the State Council
Informatization Office.
A state bureau of science, technology and industry
for national defence will be formed under the new ministry. The State Tobacco
Monopoly Administration will merged into the new ministry.
The Commission of
Science Technology and Industry for National Defense, the Ministry of
Information Industry and the State Council Informatization Office will be
dissolved.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION
The ministry of transportation will
integrate the functions of the Ministry of Communications and the General
Administration of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Construction's functions on
urban public transportation management.
A state bureau of civil aviation will
be formed under the new ministry. The State Post Bureau will be annexed.
The
Ministry of Railways will continue to exist. Reforms will be continued on rail
transportation system.
MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCES AND SOCIAL SECURITY
The
new ministry will integrate the functions of the Ministry of Personnel and the
Ministry of Labor and Social Security. A state bureau of civil servants will be
established under the new ministry. The State Administration of Foreign Experts
Affairs will be part of the new ministry.
The Ministry of Personnel and the
Ministry of Labor and Social Securities will be dissolved.
OTHER
REFORMS
-- To form a ministry of environmental protection, replacing the
State Environmental Protection Administration.
-- To form a ministry of
housing and urban-rural construction, replacing the Ministry of
Construction.
-- To put the State Food and Drug Administration under the
Ministry of Health.
Xinhua
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