China unveils cabinet restructuring plan

The fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2018. China Tuesday unveiled a massive cabinet restructuring plan to make the government better structured, more efficient, and service-oriented. The institutional reform plan of the State Council, affecting dozens of entities, was submitted to the first session of the 13th National People's Congress for review, pending approval. If passed, it will be China's eighth cabinet restructuring since 1982. [Photo by Yao Dawe/Xinhuai]

BEIJING - China Tuesday unveiled a massive cabinet restructuring plan to make the government better structured, more efficient, and service-oriented.

The institutional reform plan of the State Council, affecting dozens of entities, was submitted to the first session of the 13th National People's Congress for review, pending approval.

If passed, it will be China's eighth cabinet restructuring since 1982.

Briefing the lawmakers on the plan, State Councilor Wang Yong said after the shake-up the cabinet would have 15 fewer entities at ministerial or vice-ministerial levels.

He said the move will strengthen the government's roles in economic management, market supervision, social management, public service, ecological and environmental protection.

"It focuses on the needs of development and meets the people's expectations," Wang said, adding that the reshuffle was part of a broader plan of the Communist Party of China to reform the Party and state institutions.

Liu He, a senior Party official and head of the Office of the Central Leading Group on Financial and Economic Affairs, described the reform "revolutionary" in a signed article published on the People's Daily Tuesday.

He said the reform was meant to take on shaking up entrenched power and interests.

"The effects will reach far and deep. Only a great leader can unleash such a reform," said Yang Weimin, Liu's deputy and a member of the top political advisory body.

Yang said a streamlined administration would save numerous coordination meetings between government ministries and agencies each year.

Cutting bureaucracy has been a common pursuit of governments around the world. China is no exception. Downsizing the cabinet has taken place approximately every five years since the early 1980s.

Observers took note of the latest move, saying there is more to it.

They said the reform pointed to the authorities' current priorities - risk prevention, poverty relief, and pollution control - reflect the country's larger role on global stage, and reaffirm the government's commitment to better protecting the weak and vulnerable.