Li urges efforts to integrate licenses

Governments at all levels should step up efforts to cut red tape for companies by combining separate business licenses into one, according to Premier Li Keqiang.

Integrating business certifications and licenses into one consolidated business license should be accomplished on schedule to reduce costs and develop an international and accommodating business environment, Li said in a note to a meeting held on Friday.

China will continue to promote entrepreneurship and innovation to develop new growth engines for sustainable and healthy economic and social development, Li added.

Governments should speed up implementation of the reform to ensure it will be finished by Oct 1, so that it can provide streamlined approval, better service and stronger supervision, according to State Councilor Wang Yong, who addressed the meeting.

The State Council urged a quicker pace of reform earlier this month.

Wang urged governments to cut unnecessary approval procedures and avoid repetition caused by submitting identical registration information.

Meanwhile, supervision of registration procedures will be strengthened, and integration of the internet with government services will be boosted to improve efficiency, Wang added.