Policy digest

25 administrative approvals to be scrapped

China will further reduce licensing red tape to promote the transformation of government functions and improve the business environment, the State Council decided at an executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday.

According to a statement released after the meeting, the government will cancel 25 administrative approval items, including preapproval of corporate names before business registration and the preliminary review of domestically produced medicines, in order to further invigorate the market. Another six administrative approval items, including registration to practice some professions, will be delegated to government departments at or below the provincial level.