Cabinet meets on ministry function disposition

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-25 23:51

BEIJING -- The State Council, China's Cabinet, met Wednesday in an executive meeting, which discussed and passed a provision on the function disposition of ministries and their affiliated departments.

The provision also covered areas of internal structure and staffing of ministries and their subordinate departments.

Functions in the areas of energy resources management, environmental protection, social management and public services concerning people's livelihood were reinforced, according to the provision.

To avoid functional overlapping, it laid emphasis on the power division of relevant government units.

The coordination mechanism would be established to make a clear-cut division of major and subordinate responsibilities if more than one ministry or department are involved, it says.

The provision also requires government departments to be held responsible if pitfalls were found and reported within their jurisdiction.

Government departments should also exercise strict control on the number of staff based on the principles of simplicity, unity and efficiency, it says.

The meeting, presided by Premier Wen Jiabao, pointed out the pass of the provision was important for fulfilling government functions and building a people-oriented, responsible, clean government under the rule of law.