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.
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 an improved
macroregulation system.
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 nuclear power
management of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National
Defense.
The National Energy Leading Group and its working bodies is to be
dissolved.
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 merge 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 TRANSPORT
The ministry of transport 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 passenger transport 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 transport system.
The Ministry of Communications and the General Administration of Civil
Aviation will be dissolved.
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 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.