CHENGDU, April 3 (Xinhua) -- China will focus on government reforms,
perfecting the basic economic system and improving people's livelihoods this
year, said a senior economic planning official.
"These three areas, which all intersect, are China's major reform targets
for this year and into the future," said Chen Deming, vice minister of the
National Development and Reform Commission.
Chen made the remarks on the sidelines of the Meeting of National Economic
System Reforms held Monday in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan
Province.
He said the country will strive to build a more efficient and responsible
government that is ruled by law and provides more services to the people.
The focus of government reforms will be placed on Changing the function of
governments. Major tasks at the present stage and in the near future include
reduction of administrative approval, increase social service and management and
quick formation of an overall plan on administrative reforms under the principle
of simplification and efficiency.
The government will adjust prices to reduce energy consumption and
pollutant emission, he added.
Last year, China's economy surged 10.7 percent, the fastest in a decade,
while its energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product dropped by only
1.2 percent, falling short of the target of 4 percent.
"The government encourages state-owned enterprises to undergo shareholder
reforms and bring in more measures to boost the growth of private economic
sector," he noted.
He acknowledged the government will reform the minimum pay system and
regulate salary levels in state-run companies and agencies in a bid to narrow
the income gap.
Chen said the government will step up efforts to cover rural and urban
residents with pension and medical insurance. He also called for the scrapping
of the current household registration system that hinders the population
migration from countryside to cities.
"The government is now more determined to push forward reforms," he said.
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