China to push forward taxation reform (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-07-03 08:46
A State Council executive meeting on Sunday discussed ways to push forward
taxation reform in China's countryside.
A statement from the meeting,
which was presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao, said that the key to implementing
the rural taxation reform lies in advancing comprehensive rural reforms in
township government organs, rural compulsory education and the financial systems
of township and county governments.
The statement stressed the need to
test the rural comprehensive reforms in more regions and encourage township
governments to focus more on rural social management and public services by
reducing personnel and expenditure.
The statement also called for the
improvement of rural compulsory education reform to ensure financial resources
for free compulsory education for rural students.
On reforming and
improving the financial systems of township and county governments, the
statement promised to transfer more funds to the local governments after the
rural taxation reform cuts a large chunk of their tax income.
The
statement also proposed the establishment of a mechanism to monitor farmers'
debts.
The meeting also discussed and adopted the draft anti-drug law,
which will be submitted to the Standing Committee of National People's Congress
for deliberation after further revision. (For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
|