Intermediary services to be cut by year-end: Govt

China's ongoing campaign to clear up intermediary services for administrative approval is expected to finish by the end of this year, a senior official said, as the central government plans more cuts to red-tape. [Photo/IC]

China's ongoing campaign to clear up intermediary services for administrative approval is expected to finish by the end of this year, a senior official said, as the central government plans more cuts to red-tape.

Wang Feng, vice-director of the State Commission Office of Public Sectors Reform, said at a news conference on Friday that the reform aiming to clear up intermediary services is expected to be completed by the end of this year, but he warns that the intermediary service might take on other forms after the reform.

In China, applicants seeking approvals from State government department have to go through intermediaries in some cases to secure evaluation, authentication or review reports, making the sector fertile ground for corruption.

Wang said the intermediaries have been the last hurdle standing in the way of the government campaign to simplify the procedures of government approval.

"The enterprises were forced to spend a large amount of time on the intermediary services, which prolonged the time period of administrative approvals," he said.

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China aims for faster administrative approvals by Xinhua

The Chinese central government has promised more efforts to accelerate the administrative approval process.

The State Council, China's cabinet, published a document listing several measures to simplify approval procedures and improve transparency in the process after a meeting on Wednesday.

The meeting was presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

China has worked to streamline administration and delegate powers to stimulate the market as part of its reform efforts amid an economic slowdown.

In the past two years, 798 administrative approval items have been canceled or delegated to local governments by the State Council.

However, more efforts are still needed for the measures to benefit people.