Plan on Reform of State Council Organs

(Adopted at the 1st Session of the 11th National People's Congress on March 15 2008.)

In keeping with the spirit of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the 2nd Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the major missions of this reform of State Council organs revolve around the transformation of governmental functions, the disentanglement of the duties of the various ministries and commissions, the exploration and implementation of a super-ministry system that organically unifies functions, the rational allocation of functions among macroeconomic control ministries and commissions, the strengthening of the authorities responsible for the administration of energy and the administration of the environment, the consolidation and improvement of the structures for the administration of the industrial and information sector and the transport sector and, with the focus on improving people's livelihoods, the strengthening and consolidation of the ministries and commissions responsible for social management and public services.

(1) Rational allocation of functions among macroeconomic control ministries and commissions: the functions of the National Development and Reform Commission will be further transformed, reducing its micro-management of affairs and the specific matters that it is responsible for examining and approving and its efforts will be focused on macroeconomic control. The Ministry of Finance will reform and improve its budget and tax management, improve the matching of the finances of the central and local governments to their functions and powers and improve the public finance system. The People's Bank of China will further improve the monetary policy system, strengthen overall coordination with financial regulatory authorities and safeguard the financial security of the state. The National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, People's Bank of China, etc. will establish and enhance a coordination mechanism so as to create a sounder macroeconomic control system.

(2) Strengthening of energy management authorities: a high-level deliberation and coordination authority, the National Energy Commission, will be established. A National Energy Bureau will be established under the administration of the National Development and Reform Commission. The duties and the body responsible for the administration of the energy sector of the National Development and Reform Commission, the duties of the Office of the National Energy Leading Group and the duties for the administration of nuclear energy of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence will be consolidated and transferred to the National Energy Bureau. The work of the General Office of the National Energy Commission will be undertaken by the National Energy Bureau. The National Energy Leading Group and its offices will not be retained.

(3) Establishment of the Ministry of Industry and Information: the duties of the National Development and Reform Commission for the administration of the industrial sector, the duties of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence other than those for the administration of nuclear energy and the duties of the Ministry of Information Industry and the State Council Informatization Office will be consolidated and transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Information. A State Bureau of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence will be established under the administration of the Ministry of Industry and Information. The administration of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration will be transferred to the Ministry of Industry and Information. The Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, the Ministry of Information Industry and the State Council Informatization Office will not be retained.

(4) Establishment of the Ministry of Transport: the duties of the Ministry of Communications and of the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the duties of the Ministry of Construction for guiding urban passenger transport will be consolidated and transferred to the Ministry of Transport. A State Bureau of Civil Aviation will be established under the administration of the Ministry of Transport. The administration of the State Post Bureau will be transferred to the Ministry of Transport. The Ministry of Railways will be retained and will continue to press forward with its reforms. The Ministry of Communications and the Civil Aviation Administration of China will not be retained.

(5) Establishment of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security: the duties of the Ministry of Personnel and of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be consolidated and transferred to the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. A State Bureau of Civil Servants will be established under the administration of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security will not be retained.

(6) Establishment of the Ministry of Environmental Protection: the State Environmental Protection Administration will not be retained.

(7) Establishment of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-rural Construction: the Ministry of Construction will not be retained.

(8) Putting the State Food and Drug Administration under the administration of the Ministry of Health: the Ministry of Health will be responsible for the overall coordination of food safety and organizing the investigation and handling of major food safety related incidents.

Following the reform, the State Council will be composed of the following ministries and commissions, in addition to the General Office of the State Council:

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

2. Ministry of National Defence of the People's Republic of China

3. National Development and Reform Commission of the People's Republic of China

4. Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China

5. Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China

6. Ministry of Industry and Information of the People's Republic of China

7. State Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People's Republic of China

8. Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China

9. Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China

10. Ministry of Supervision of the People's Republic of China

11. Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China

12. Ministry of Justice of the People's Republic of China

13. Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of China

14. Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People's Republic of China

15. Ministry of Land and Resources of the People's Republic of China

16. Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China

17. Ministry of Housing and Urban-rural Construction of the People's Republic of China

18. Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China

19. Ministry of Railways of the People's Republic of China

20. Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China

21. Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China

22. Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

23. Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China

24. Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China

25. National Population and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China

26. People's Bank of China

27. National Audit Office of the People's Republic of China

Pursuant to the Organic Law of the State Council, the revision and establishment of the ministries and commissions of the State Council are subject to the deliberation and approval of the National People's Congress. The revision and establishment of the other organs of the State Council will be subject to the examination and approval of the newly constituted State Council.