BEIJING -- China's administrative reform is helping promote the Chinese economy's upgrade and curb corruption.
Economic development has entered a key period of restructuring, but excessive intervention of government in economic activities has severely constrained the economic development vitality.
The situation is changing, with the central government's further exemption of administrative approval items or delegation of the approving rights to authorities at lower levels.
The redundant administrative approval items have frequently gone under the knife since the new leadership assumed office this March.
On Sept. 25, premier Li Keqiangannounced another 75 items exempted from central government approval, taking the total number of such items to 221 since March. Consequently, the dividend of reform is being released.
Reduced government approval and intervention have not only given enterprises more say in investment and production, but give the government more space to manage affairs that truly call for management.
The arrangement will also encourage fair market competition, avoid unchecked construction and reduce idle capacity. Corruption will be curbed during the reform.
Administrative approval rights used to be owned by few government departments. The convergence of rights makes it easy to breed corruption.
The reform has slashed rights of government departments and made approval procedures more transparent.
The reform also shows the central government's management innovation, which could improve its image.
As the reform will inevitably affect the interests of certain parties, central authorities must be tough in supervision of the reform across the nation and punish those who fail to carry out it.
