China on its way to cutting 1t yuan in enterprise costs

A decision was made during a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on June 7, to cut fees paid by enterprises, with promises to slash costs by 1 trillion yuan ($147.1 billion) this year.

The meeting also decided to create a better policy environment to build more high-level demonstration bases of mass entrepreneurship and innovation, and adopted draft regulations on volunteer services.

Details:>>China on its way to cutting 1t yuan in enterprises costs

Five-year plan on development of border regions

The State Council issued a five-year plan for developing border regions and improving border residents’ income.

It urged developing the infrastructure in border regions in various fields, including transportation, water conservancy, energy and information technology, and promoting urban construction.

It also asked border areas to improve people’s lives, healthcare and cultural services, develop advantageous industries, join the Belt and Road Initiative, promote the ecosystem and environment and consolidate ethnic harmony.

Details:>> China issues five-year plan to develop border regions

Assessment on education responsibilities of provincial governments

The State Council released a circular to assess the implementation of education responsibilities of governments at provincial levels.

The circular is aimed at improving education quality, promoting fair education, and enhancing the importance of education in economic and social development, according to the State Council.

The assessments will include the governments’ implementation of education policies, laws and regulations, local education development and education work in administrative regions.

Issues such as encouraging and supporting the widespread development of pre-school education, promoting the balanced development of compulsory education and advancing senior high-school education are stressed as the assessment standards of local education development.

Details:>> China to evaluate education responsibilities of provincial governments

Rules for government websites

The State Council released a circular on the guidelines for government website construction to gradually improve online public services and enhance government transparency.

According to the circular, governments at all levels are urged to make public their roles and responsibilities on their official websites.

It made clear that governments at or above the county level can run only one website, and governments below the county level should publicize their governance affairs through the websites of county level government.

Details:>> State Council issues rules for government websites

Cross-region economic cooperation encouraged

The central government has called on local governments and enterprises across the country to cooperate more to support mutual economic growth.

In addition to developing industrial zones, regions with different economic conditions could partner with entities to explore financing, technology, brands and management opportunities, according to the guidelines released by the National Development and Reform Commission and seven other government departments.

Cross-region industrial zones should promote green sectors and follow environmental protection regulations, according to the statement.

Developed regions are encouraged to set up economic zones in underdeveloped regions to boost employment and alleviate poverty.

Details:>> China encourages cross-region economic cooperation

National standards for HR service institutions

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine and the Standardization Administration recently released the national standards for service abilities of human resource service institutions.

The standards will take effect from Dec 1, 2017.

It regulates staff employed, business scope, facilities, service environment and regulations and rules, and gave standards on the related items.

Expand tax breaks for small and micro businesses

China will expand tax breaks for small and micro businesses in a move to reduce corporate burdens and support economic growth, authorities said on June 7.

From Jan 1, 2017, to Dec 31, 2019, small and micro businesses with an annual taxable income of no more than 500,000 yuan ($73,599) will be eligible for tax preferences, raised from the previous limit of 300,000 yuan, according to a notice by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation.

Qualified enterprises will have their corporate income tax base halved, with a tax rate of 20 percent, the notice said. The standard corporate income tax rate stands at 25 percent.

More private capital in agricultural development

The ministries of Finance and Agriculture on June 6 jointly released a guideline on public-private partnerships (PPP) in agriculture to diversify funding for the industry.

The ministries asked local authorities to cautiously select projects, ensure fair competition and transparent information disclosure and to strengthen regulation in PPP projects.

While local governments may hold shares in project companies, they should not interfere in operations and are forbidden from undertaking all the risk in any project, according to the guideline.

Details:>> China to encourage private capital in agriculture development

Service measures for more tax cuts

The National Bureau of Taxation released a circular to publish more measures to provide better service for taxpayers.

The circular asked officials from related departments to receive training, improve efficiency and strengthen supervision. It also gave 10 service measures to guarantee the tax reduction work.

Pilot program of rural complex in 18 provinces

The Ministry of Finance decided to carry out a pilot program to construct a rural complex in 18 provinces nationwide, including Shanxi and Hebei.

Rural complex refers to a town with modern agriculture, tourism and a living community, which is regarded as a new development mode that applies to the supply-side reform in rural areas.

Universities given more autonomy to enroll international students

The ministries of Education, Public Security and Foreign Affairs have jointly released a regulation on enrolling international students.

The document released by the three departments gave more autonomy to higher learning institutions, allowing qualified universities to enroll international students on their own.

It regulated that universities should involve the training of international students in their education plans, allocate suitable teachers, and establish and improve education and a mechanism to ensure teaching quality.

Concern over the collision between courier and logistics network

The State Post Bureau has called on express delivery providers to find common ground and protect consumer rights, amid a standoff between the country’s largest courier and a leading logistics network.

The shutdown of data sharing and connection between SF Express and Cainiao Network Technology since June 1 has hindered parcel tracking via Tmall and Taobao.

After the negotiation, both sides agreed to seek the best solutions to secure market order and consumers’ rights. They also agreed to restore the cooperation and data transmission.