VI. Improving the Government's Administrative Capacity and Style of
Work
Last year we took some steps toward implementing the Administrative
Permission Law, making policy decisions more scientific and democratic,
promoting law-based administration and improving social management. We are
clearly aware that there is much to be desired in the government's
self-improvement efforts. We will earnestly implement the guidelines set forth
at the Fourth Plenary Session of the Sixteenth Central Committee and accelerate
government self-reform and self-improvement.
1. Deepening the restructuring of government bodies. To make government
bodies more streamlined, unified and efficient and meet the requirements for
better coordination in making and implementing policies and doing oversight
work, we will improve the structure of government bodies, clarify their
functions and bring their staff sizes under strict control. This should put the
responsibilities, organizational structure and size of the government on a
scientific, standard and legal basis. We must solidify the achievements that
have been made in government restructuring and solve new problems promptly. We
will speed up restructuring of town and township governments, focusing on
rationally defining their functions, simplifying their structure and reducing
the number of their employees. We will energetically yet prudently press ahead
with the reform of institutions on a type-by-type basis and standardize the way
they are granted powers in accordance with the law.
2. Speeding up the transformation of government functions. We will further
separate the functions of government from those of enterprises, state assets
management authorities and institutions. We will resolutely transfer
responsibility for activities that the government should not be engaged in to
enterprises, the market or civic organizations, and maximize the role of civic
organizations, industrial associations, chambers of commerce and intermediary
agencies. The work that the government should do, it should do well. While
effectively regulating the economy and overseeing the market, we need to pay
closer attention to social management and public services by shifting more
financial, material and other public resources to these areas and having leaders
devote more energy to developing social undertakings and building a harmonious
society. We will conscientiously implement the Administrative Permission Law. We
will continue to deepen the reform of the system of administrative approval,
further reduce the number of items requiring administrative approval, and
standardize approval procedures.
3. Improving the methods and means of economic management. We must thoroughly
change the traditional ideas and practices of the planned economy. In pursuing
economic development, governments at all levels must concentrate on serving
market players and creating an environment favorable to their development. They
must not make decisions or work to attract business and investment on behalf of
enterprises, or directly intervene in their production and business operations.
Leading cadres at all levels must enhance their awareness of the importance of
guiding and their ability to guide economic work in accordance with the
principles of the market economy, to act in accordance with international
practices and to regulate economic activities mainly through economic and legal
means.
4. Working hard to build a service-oriented government. We need to make
innovations in our style of government and focus management on providing
services to lower-level governments, enterprises and the general public.
Administrative resources need to be better integrated and administrative costs
lowered to improve administrative efficiency and the level of services.
Government departments should not only strive to do their own work well but also
improve coordination and cooperation with each other. We will improve the
systems of public notifications and public hearings to expand participation of
the general public in the management of public affairs. We will energetically
make government affairs more open and strengthen efforts to develop
e-government. We will increase the transparency of government work and boost
popular confidence in government.
5. Improving our ability to perform our duties in accordance with the law. We
will conscientiously implement the basic policy of governing the country by law
and the Program on Performing Official Duties in Accordance with the Law
promulgated by the State Council, and speed up work to build a law-based
government. Governments at all levels and their departments must strictly abide
by the Constitution and laws, exercise their powers and perform their duties
within their stipulated scope of authority and on the basis of the procedures
defined by laws, and accept oversight. We will implement a responsibility system
for enforcement of administrative laws and put a stop to overlapping
jurisdiction and unfair practices in law enforcement. We will strengthen the
administrative accountability system and investigate and prosecute
administrative improprieties in accordance with the law. All departments must
strengthen their internal management, actively cooperate with and support
auditing offices and supervision departments in the performance of their duties
in accordance with the law, and conscientiously correct any problems discovered
in the process. The scope of public and media oversight of the government and
its departments will be expanded.
