清单管理制度(qīngdān guǎnlǐ zhìdù): List-based management system

Premier Li Keqiang vowed to implement a list-based management system in the Government Work Report he delivered on March 5 to the fifth plenary session of the 12th National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

He urged the State Council, China's Cabinet, to draw up a list of the powers and responsibilities of various government departments this year, streamlining government bureaucracy and delegating powers to lower levels of government.

He also called for the pilot reform of the market-entry negative list to be extended to more places, reduce the government's discretionary power and increase market players' right to select on their own.

If well implemented, this will create huge space for innovation and the development of the new economy.

The list-based management system Li pledges to establish throughout the various levels of government will draw the boundaries of power and responsibility for every department and every post.

On one hand, the governments will find it harder to abuse their power or shirk their responsibilities. On the other hand, the lists will make it much easier for power to be supervised by not only the watchdogs, but also the media and the public.

It is time now for the country to further advance in a market-oriented direction by upholding the laws and regulations to effectively protect the rights and interests of market players.