BEIJING, Feb 21 (INP): China is moving ahead setting a new model of getting rid of red-tapism for facilitating the people in their day-to-day work with the government ‘s functionaries.

According to an official announcement on Thursday, China’s central government will eliminate or delegate to lower-level authorities more items that require government approval, and implement nationwide the reform of the construction project reviewing system, the State Council’s executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided.

The Chinese government has put high importance on transforming government functions by streamlining administration, delegating powers, enhancing oversight and providing better services.

President Xi Jinping underlined the need for administrative streamlining by minimizing the government’s micromanagement and reducing the number of items that require administrative approval.

Premier Li Keqiang stressed the importance of deepening the reform of transforming government functions, especially by delegating administrative powers.

He called for a thorough evaluation of all government review items to see that all existing review items that can be eliminated or delegated to lower-level authorities be duly dealt with, except for those involving national security and major public interests.

At a press conference held last March after the closing of the NPC session, Premier Li said that the Chinese government will strive to halve the time required for starting a business and for reviewing a project in 2018, as part of the endeavor to streamline administration.

“Streamlining administration is as important as tax cuts in stimulating market vitality as we tackle the current downward economic pressure.

The key task for the government is to foster a better business environment to energize all market players,” Premier Li said at the meeting. “This will be our important measure for sustaining steady economic growth this year.”

INP/J/AK