China to Reform Government StructureA total of 13 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China have launched institutional reforms throughout their governments, and another four others have finished half of the job for the reform, the weekly journal Outlook reported Monday.The structural overhaul in ten other provinces and municipalities is underway, while Jiangsu, Guizhou, and Shanxi provinces and Xinjiang Autonomous Region are ready to start, the journal said. The reform is meant to strengthen some departments, such as those in charge of the economy, finance and management. However, redundant departments and employees in government organizations will be eliminated or laid off. In addition, the government administrative functions of professional economic departments including industrial and commercial administrations will be separated and transferred to comprehensive economic departments. Government departments will cut the ties with economic entities affiliated to them and will no longer interfere in the operation and investment policies of enterprises. Through the reform, China will reduce its average number of provincial departments from 55 to 40, a drop of about 20 percent. With a total of 74,000 employees being laid off, not counting employees in political and legal organizations, this year's reform will be the most extensive ever. |
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