Major gov´t reshuffles in China

Source: CCTV.com | 03-11-2008 18:34

1982

-The number of ministries, commissions and organizations directly under the State Council, and functional offices was reduced from 100 to 61, and staff members reduced from 51,000 to 30,000.

-The reform did away with life tenure for leading cadre and promoted younger officials.

1988

-The number of ministries and commissions was reduced from 45 to 41, organizations directly under the State Council reduced from 22 to 19, and staff members reduced by 9,700.

-The reform focused on transforming government functions and restructuring those cabinet agencies closely linked with the economic system.

1993

-The number of ministries, commissions and organizations directly under the State Council, and functional offices was reduced from 86 to 59, and staff members reduced by 20%.

-The core task of this restructuring was to build an administrative system with Chinese characteristics that adapted to the system of socialist market economy. Transformation of government functions remained the focus of this reform.

1998

-Fifteen ministries and commissions were axed, three were renamed, and four new ministries and commissions were set up. The number of ministries and commissions was reduced from 40 to 29 after the restructuring.

-This reform was to establish a highly efficient, well coordinated and standardized administrative system, improve the state system of civil servants and set up a high-caliber, specialized contingent of administrative personnel.

2003

-The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, China Banking Regulatory Commission, Ministry of Commerce, State Food and Drug Administration, and State Administration of Work Safety were set up or re-grouped as new cabinet agencies. The State Development and Planning Commission was renamed as the State Development and Reform Commission, and the State Family Planning Commission was renamed as the State Population and Family Planning Commission. The number of ministries and commissions was reduced from 29 to the current 28.

-This reform helped strengthen the supervision and macro-regulation functions of the government, improve service functions and clarify functions of different cabinet agencies.

Editor:Xiong Qu