New policies to improve government efficiency, benefit public and business

BEIJING — Chinese authorities published a guideline on May 23 to cut red tape and improve government efficiency so that the public and businesses can have easier access to public service.

A set of measures will streamline those public services that directly affect the daily lives of ordinary people and normal business practices, according to the guideline issued by the General Offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council.

The work is aimed at minimizing the visits ordinary citizens and business people have to make to government departments, the document said.

New practices, such as 24-hour online government, one-stop applications and minimal procedure, have already made a difference, said a news release from the State Commission Office of Public Sectors Reform.

Those practices have significantly lowered institutional transaction costs and improved the administrative and business environments. However, the current improvement still has not reached the level of comprehensively deepening reform, nor met the expectations of the public.

According to the new guideline, public services should be online. If law and conditions allow, up to 80 percent of administrative approvals and other services could be processed on line. Public services should be available in neighborhoods and communities so citizens do not have to travel far. Procedures should be simplified so that most matters can be handled in one visit.

A national information platform will be established to integrate the databases of departments and regions.

National and provincial governments will share their databases with public services at lower levels, including databases for identity checks, taxation, real estate registration and social security.

Databases and office systems within provincial divisions will be integrated into one network and share information.