Reform plans of local govts well on track

SHANGHAI: The central government has approved the restructuring plans of 21 provincial and municipal governments, a senior official has said.

As of Feb 23, 21 of the 27 plans handed in by provinces and municipalities had been approved, including those of Shanghai and Shaanxi province, Wu Zhilun, vice-director of the State Commission Office for Public Sector Reform, was quoted as saying in yesterday's Outlook Weekly.

Following the national government institutional reforms designed to improve efficiency that began in March of last year, the local level plans focus on improving public services, protecting people's livelihoods and caring for the environment, Wu said.