China urges efforts to ensure accomplishment of goals set in gov't work report

BEIJING - Premier Li Keqiang called for efforts to accomplish the goals set in this year's government work report when presiding over an executive meeting on Wednesday as the new cabinet assumed office.

Guided by the 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 through the government work report, said a statement released after the meeting.

The meeting also called for greater efforts to promote high-quality development, deepen reform and opening-up, cultivate new growth engines through innovation and entrepreneurship and improve people's wellbeing.

The meeting, the first since the new State Council line-up was endorsed by this year's session of the 13th National People's Congress, assigned each and every 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 market opening 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 meeting called for an accountability mechanism as well as schemes to push forward key tasks to ensure that each task is implemented with concrete measures and detailed schedules overseen by designated officials. More supervision will be conducted to ensure that policies are implemented in place.

It emphasized the importance of cementing and strengthening the good momentum in China's 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, better livelihood, and risk preparedness.

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. The institutional reform of the State Council will be carried out together with the reform to streamline administration, delegate power, step up compliance oversight and improve services. All these aim to transform the functions of the government.

Key tasks including cutting the time required for business registration by half and administrative services going online will be prioritized, and measures to cut taxes and reduce fees should be implemented in earnest.

More measures to ease market access and further open up will be rolled out for a better business environment and more benefits to the people.

Key livelihood-related areas, including employment, education, medical care and old-age care, will see more concrete measures responsive to public concerns.

"Effective measures for the benefit of the people must be delivered without delay. 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 directly under the State Council, organizations and administrative offices under the State Council, and administrations and bureaus under the ministries and commissions.

All departments should take an integrated approach to achieve economic and social progress while reforming institutions. Smooth transition and hand-over of responsibilities should be realized.

Relevant departments will perform their duties 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.