Government to further cut red tape

China will eliminate or delegate to lower-level authorities more items that require government approval, and implement nationwide reform of the review process over construction projects, the State Council's executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Wednesday.

"Streamlining administration is as important as tax cuts in stimulating market vitality as we tackle the current downward economic pressure. The key task for the government is to foster a better business environment to energize all market players," Li said at the meeting. "This will be our important measure for sustaining steady economic growth this year."

It was decided at the meeting that 25 administrative approval items including preapproval of corporate names before business registration and preliminary review of domestically-produced medicines will be canceled. Six administrative approval items including the registration of certain practices and occupations will be delegated to government departments at or below the provincial level.