A State Council executive meeting on Sunday discussed ways to
push forward taxation reform in China's countryside.
A statement from the meeting, which was presided over by Premier
Wen Jiabao, said that the key to implementing
the rural taxation reform lies in advancing comprehensive rural
reforms in township government organs, rural compulsory education
and the financial systems of township and county governments.
The statement stressed the necessity to test the comprehensive
reforms in more rural areas and encourage township governments to
focus more on rural social management and public services by
reducing personnel and expenditure.
The statement also called for the improvement of compulsory
education reform to ensure financial resources for free compulsory
education for rural students.
On reforming and improving the financial systems of township and
county governments, the statement promised to transfer more funds
to the local governments after the rural taxation reform cuts a
large chunk of their tax income.
The statement also proposed the establishment of a mechanism to
monitor farmers' debts.
The meeting also discussed and adopted the draft anti-drug law,
which will be submitted to the Standing Committee of National
People's Congress (NPC) for deliberation after further
revision.
(Xinhua News Agency July 3, 2006)