China unveils cabinet reshuffle plan
- China.org.cn, March 10, 2013
The State Council, or China's cabinet, will begin its seventh restructuring attempt in the past three decades to curb red tape and reduce administrative intervention in the market and social issues.
The number of ministries under the State Council will reduce from 27 to 25 while several departments and agencies are reorganized, according to a plan [highlights] of institutional restructuring and functional transformation of the State Council, submitted to the national legislative session Sunday.
• Aims of the plan
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.
• Railway administration
The Ministry of Railways, long in the center of controversy for being both railway service provider and watchdog, will be dissolved into administrative and commercial arms.
• Health & family planning
The Health Ministry and the National Population and Family Planning Commission will be merged into a new National Health and Family Planning Commission.
• Food and drug administration
The status of the existing State Administration of Food and Drug will be elevated to a general administration in order to improve food and drug safety.
• Oceanic administration
The country plans to restructure the country's top oceanic administration to bring its maritime law enforcement forces, currently scattered in different ministries, under the unified management of one single administration.
• Energy administration
The National Energy Administration will be restructured to streamline administrative and regulatory system of the energy sector.
• Media regulators
Two media regulators, the General Administration of Press and Publication and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, will be merged into one to oversee the country's press, publication, radio, film and television sectors.