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Govt policy moves from past week

Hu Yongqi
Updated: May 22,2018 7:01 AM     China Daily

Inspection results on govt websites released

The State Council, China’s Cabinet, released the results of checks on governmental websites across the country in the first quarter, according to a notice released on May 16.

Results showed that 95 percent of 303 governmental websites, which were inspected by the General Office of the State Council, met standards. Local governments and departments under the State Council checked 11,639 websites under their administrations, and 95 percent of them passed.

In the first quarter, 272 officials were punished for websites which failed to pass checks, including 12 officials being transferred to other posts or removed from office.

Typical problems arising from unqualified websites included ineffective management, inconvenient online services, restricted access for internet users and substandard domain names or logos.

Local governments and departments under the State Council were urged to solve problems disclosed in this check, improve online services, give more access to the public when they submit questions and suggestions, and protect cyber security.

As of March 1, the number of governmental websites in operation hit 23,269. Only half of them were in operation in the first quarter last year, according to the notice. Among them were 1,645 websites run by governments under county level. Only 10 percent were operational in the first quarter in 2017.

Last year, 345 million messages were released on governmental websites, which received 34 million responses and comments from the public, the notice said.

Regulations to be tidied up on property rights protection

A State Council notice was released on May 14 to clear up current regulations and documents related to property rights protection.

The move aims to better protect property rights and other legal rights of diverse ownership, increase vitality of market entities in innovation and entrepreneurship, and promote constant vigorous economic growth.

The notice focused on stipulations violating equal protection of property rights, rights of use, managerial rights and rights to yields for all ownership and economy entities. It also targeted those improperly limiting enterprises from exercising their rights of production and management and hampering enterprises and citizens in real estate transactions.

All departments under the State Council were required to provide detailed suggestions, plans for amendments, and reasons for amendments. They should also seek public opinion when any laws and regulations are found to violate property rights protection.

Measures to further cut haulage logistics costs

A State Council executive meeting on May 16 decided to further reduce costs in logistics and improve efficiency by integrating highway, railway and water transport, a move that is expected to save more than 12 billion yuan ($1.9 billion) in logistics costs.

The meeting, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang, approved three measures to fulfill this goal.

Starting from this month, tax will be halved until Dec 31 next year for logistics companies when using urban land for large commodity storage facilities, according to a statement released after the meeting. Meanwhile, the purchase tax for trailer vehicles will be cut by half from July 1 to June 30 in 2021.

By the end of this year, three truck examinations-the annual review, examination and exhaust emission inspection-will be integrated to shorten approval procedures. Licenses for trucks weighing less than 4.5 metric tons will be abolished and freight vehicles can be examined in different provinces. Cross-province tollgates will be canceled as well. Procedures will be simplified for logistics companies to set up branches, the statement added.

Procedures for foreign investment to be eased

The State Council decided to further simplify the procedures for foreign investors to establish their companies, which aims to improve high-level trade liberalization and investment facilitation.

The decision was made at an executive meeting of the State Council, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on May 16. Starting on June 30, foreign investment registration will be completed online in a unified form, a single department and no charges, a statement released after the meeting said. The new policy is expected to substantially shorten the registration time.

Information-sharing on foreign companies will be promoted among banks, customs, tax and foreign exchange authorities, the statement added.