Highlights of China´s institutional restructuring plan

Source: Xinhua | 03-16-2008 08:47

BEIJING, March 15 (Xinhua) -- 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.