BEIJING, Feb. 15 -- The State Council, China's cabinet, announced Saturday it has exempted administrative approval for 64 items, abolishing or transferring them to subordinate government departments.

A total of 64 items were exempted from central government approval and another six had already been submitted to the top legislature for revision of laws, the State Council said in a statement.

The move followed decisions made by the State Council in 2013 to set aside or downgrade administrative measures in a bid to transform government function and stimulate vitality and creativity in the market.