After the reshuffle, the NDRC will focus on macro-regulation and phase out its involvement in economic micro-management and the examination and approval of specific projects.
The Ministry of Finance is to reform and improve its management of the budget and tax systems. The People's Bank of China, the central bank, is to strengthen the conduct of monetary policy and improve the exchange-rate mechanism.
Observers say the new round of reform will be an important exploration in restricting power and supervising the exercise of power by different government departments.
"The planned government reshuffle, the sixth in 30 years, is not of the biggest scale, but has the farthest-reaching effects in building China's socialist political culture," said Prof. Wang Yukai with National School of Administration.
The current reshuffle is aimed at exploring the "restructuring of administrative power" and resetting the relations between the government, citizens, society and market, said Xiong Wenzhao, a professor of Law with the Central University for Nationalities. "The previous five, in comparison, were mainly aimed at streamlining government organizations and enhancing their roles in serving economic development," said Prof. Xiong.
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The Fresh Round of Government Institutional Restructuring
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Restructured ministry or commission
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The previous departments involved
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Newly-established sub-institutions
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National Development and Reform Commission
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National Development and Reform Commission
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National Energy Bureau
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Ministry of Industry and Information
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Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense, Ministry of Information Industry, State Council Informatization Office, State Tobacco Monopoly Administration
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State Bureau of Science, Technology and Industry for national Defense
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Ministry of Transport
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Ministry of Communications, General Administration of Civil Aviation, State Post Bureau
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State Bureau of Civil Aviation
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Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security
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Ministry of Personnel, Ministry of Labor and Social Security
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State Bureau of Civil Servants
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Ministry of Environmental Protection
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State Environmental Protection Administration
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Ministry for Housing and Urban-Rural Construction
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Ministry of Construction
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Ministry of Health
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Ministry of Health, State Food and Drug Administration
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(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2008)