China's ongoing campaign to clear up intermediary services for administrative approval is expected to finish by the end of this year, a senior official said, as the central government plans more cuts to red-tape.
Wang Feng, vice-director of the State Commission Office of Public Sectors Reform, said at a news conference on Friday that the reform aiming to clear up intermediary services is expected to be completed by the end of this year, but he warns that the intermediary service might take on other forms after the reform.
In China, applicants seeking approvals from State government department have to go through intermediaries in some cases to secure evaluation, authentication or review reports, making the sector fertile ground for corruption.
Wang said the intermediaries have been the last hurdle standing in the way of the government campaign to simplify the procedures of government approval.
"The enterprises were forced to spend a large amount of time on the intermediary services, which prolonged the time period of administrative approvals," he said.
