China unveils cabinet reshuffle plan

The Chinese State Council, or China’s cabinet, will begin its seventh restructuring attempt in the past three decades to curb red tape and reduce administrative intervention in the market and social issues. China’s (Xinhua) News Agency reported that the number of ministries under the State Council will reduce from 27 to 25 while several departments and agencies are reorganized, according to a plan of institutional restructuring and functional transformation of the State Council, submitted to the national legislative session Sunday. According to the plan, the Ministry of Railways, long in the center of controversy for being both railway service provider and watchdog, will be dissolved into administrative and commercial arms. Other ministries and commissions to go through reshuffle are the Health Ministry and the National Population and Family Planning Commission, which will be merged into a new National Health and Family Planning Commission. The status of the existing State Administration of Food and Drug will be elevated to a general administration in order to improve food and drug safety. The cabinet reorganization plan aims to build an efficient and law-based government with clear division of power, reasonable distribution of labor, and well-defined responsibility. The reform plan came amid public calls to boost government transparency and efficiency in government operations.