China rolls out plan to transform gov't functions

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The State Council plans to transform government functions at ministerial level to reduce administrative intervention in the market and social issues, according to a report to be delivered by State Councilor Ma Kai to the parliament's annual session on Sunday.

The plan by China's Cabinet aims to build an efficient and law-based government with clear division of power, reasonable distribution of labor, and well-defined responsibility, says the report on the State Council's institutional reform plan.

In a bid to offer quality public services and promote social justice, the State Council plan outlines major problems in the existing functions of the central government, and sets the orientation, principles and priorities in transforming the ministerial functions.

"Departments of the State Council are now focusing too much on micro issues. We should attend to our duties and must not meddle in what is not in our business," it reads, noting overlapping in government functions often leads to buck-passing inside government departments.