Li stresses need for great effort to meet goals

Essential tasks are set out at first meeting of the new State Council

Premier Li Keqiang called for efforts to accomplish the goals set in this year’s Government Work Report as he presided over the State Council executive meeting on Wednesday, the day the new Cabinet assumed office, according to a statement released after the meeting.

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, State Council departments and units should implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in full and see the Government Work Report through, the statement said.

It also called for greater efforts to promote high-quality development, deepen reform and opening-up, cultivate new growth engines via innovation and entrepreneurship and improve people’s well-being.

The meeting, the first since the new State Council lineup was endorsed by this year’s session of the 13th National People’s Congress, assigned each of the 57 key tasks in 12 aspects specified in the work report to competent departments.

The report, adopted at the annual session of the national legislature, sets a GDP growth target of around 6.5 percent and pledged further opening of markets to foreign investors.

Government departments should perform their duties in accordance with the law and make dedicated efforts to achieve the targets for this year’s economic and social development, the statement said.

Meeting participants called for an accountability mechanism and plans to push forward key tasks to ensure that each task is implemented with concrete measures and detailed schedules overseen by designated officials, it said. More supervision will be conducted to ensure that policies are implemented.

The statement emphasized the importance of cementing and strengthening the good momentum in the economy for government at all levels.

Policies will be more harmonized, targeted and effective, and coordinated efforts will be made for growth, reform, structural adjustment, improved livelihoods and risk preparedness, it said. Sustained efforts will be made to forestall and defuse major risks, carry out targeted poverty alleviation and prevent and control pollution.

Tasks in key areas will be prioritized. Institutional reform of the State Council will be carried out together with reforms to streamline administration, delegate power, step up compliance oversight and improve services, the statement said. All aim to transform the functions of the government.

Key tasks include cutting the time required for business registration by half. Also, putting administrative services online will be prioritized, and greater efforts made in cutting taxes and reducing fees. More measures to ease market access and further open up will be rolled out for a better business environment and more benefits for the people.

Key livelihood-related areas, including employment, education, medical care and old-age care, will see more concrete actions responsive to public concerns. “Effective measures for the benefit of the people must be delivered without delay. The people’s satisfaction is what the government’s work is all about, and all the promises the government made to the people must be delivered,” the statement said.

The meeting also reviewed and adopted a plan to reform the setup of special organizations and public institutions under the State Council and administrations and bureaus under ministries and commissions. All departments should take an integrated approach to achieve economic and social progress while reforming institutions. Smooth transitions and the handover of responsibilities should be realized.

Departments will do their jobs according to their original mandate until the transition is completed. No gap of responsibilities or discontinuity of work is allowed. Institutional reform and development should be mutually reinforcing, the statement added.