China will forge ahead with the reform of balancing the government-market relationship, step up efforts to simplify administrative procedures and delegate power to lower levels, Premier Li Keqiang said Wednesday.[Special Coverage]
"We are fully determined to push the reform forward until our job is done no matter what obstacles or even resistance we may encounter," Li told a press conference after the conclusion of the annual session of the National People's Congress.
Noting that the government has finished the tasks for the current term of office, set in early 2013, the next round of reform will address the remaining multitude of administrative permits, qualification certificates, and various fees levied on businesses, Li said.
The premier said the government needs to focus more on poverty alleviation, rebuilding of urban run-down areas, providing compulsory education and meeting people's basic healthcare needs.
The government needs to further improve its oversight and offer better services to businesses and the people, Li said.
"When market access is widened, the focus of the government is ensuring an equal playing field for all market entities," the premier said, adding that any violation of laws or regulations will be seriously dealt with.
The government should send a resounding "yes" to all law-abiding market entities, flash the green light of "go ahead" to all hardworking entrepreneurs and innovators, and deal with all violations by showing them a yellow card as a stern warning or in serious cases, a red card to kick them out of the market, Li said.
