China rolls out plan to transform govt functions

BEIJING - The 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.

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.

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.

The Health Ministry and the National Population and Family Planning Commission 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 country also plans to restructure the country's top oceanic administration to bring its maritime law enforcement forces, currently scattered in different ministries, under the unified management of one single administration.

The National Energy Administration will be restructured to streamline administrative and regulatory system of the energy sector.

Also, two media regulators, the General Administration of Press and Publication and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, will be merged into one to oversee the country's press, publication, radio, film and television sectors.