China cuts red tape on intermediary services for administrative approval

BEIJING - The State Council, China's cabinet, has canceled the need to apply for intermediary services in 192 administrative procedures, in the latest move to cut red tape.

Applicants will no longer need to provide evaluation and credential papers in the majority of the cases, according to a document signed by Premier Li Keqiang.

In some, government departments will bear the responsibilities for acquiring technical papers, as opposed to the applicants.

In China, many applicants for government approvals must go to intermediary agents, either independent or affiliated with cabinet departments, leaving a vacuum for corruption. In a circular April, the State Council said it would reduce the problem by obliging intermediary services in fewer cases.

Seventy percent of such services have been canceled so far, according to the State Council.