Cabinet to cut more red tape for approvals, licensing

The State Council, China's cabinet, said on Wednesday that it will further cut administrative approvals and delegate power to lower levels this year in order to promote efficiency and clear obstacles to economic growth.

The move is aimed at eliminating up to 200 administrative approval items this year. Over the past year, the council has cut or adjusted 632 administrative approval items, the State Council said during a news conference in Beijing.

The efforts are being made to spur market dynamics and ensure the market plays a decisive role in resource allocation, said Li Zhangze, spokesman for the Leading Group Office on Reform of the Administrative Approval System of the State Council in Beijing.