TIMELINE

The State Council's institutional reform and functional transformation since 1982

• In 1982

The number of the State Council's ministries and commissions were cut from 100 to 61, while the number of staff in these ministries and commission shrank from 51,000 to 30,000.

The lifetime tenure of senior leaders was terminated.

The average age of ministerial-level officials dropped from 64 to 60.

• In 1988

A host of ministries and commissions that administered some specific industries were merged and reconstructed.

The ministry of energy was established on the basis of the ministry of coal industry, the ministry of petroleum industry, and the ministry of nuclear industry.

The ministry of aeronautics industry and the ministry of astronautics industry were merged into the newly formed ministry of aeronautics and astronautics industry.

The central government pointed out that transforming the government's function is the most important part in the process of institutional reform.

• In 1993

The Party's anti-graft agency - the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection - started to work jointly with the government's anti-corruption body, the Ministry of Supervision.

The central government set the goal of institutional reform to meet the demand of a socialist market economy.

The number of staff in the central government's ministries and commissions was decreased 20 percent.

• In 1998

The number of the State Council's ministries and commissions was cut from 40 to 29, and the number of staff members paid by public funds was decreased by 1.15 million nationwide.

The central government made much progress in working toward a market-oriented economy, dismantling 10 industry-managing ministries, including the ministry of coal industry, the ministry of electricity industry and the ministry of chemistry industry.

The reform aimed to reduce the government's direct interference in the economy.

• In 2003

The number of the State Council's ministries and commissions was cut from 29 to 28.

The Ministry of Commerce was established on the basis of the ministry of foreign trade and economic cooperation and the state economic and trade commission.

The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission was established to supervise State-owned enterprises. The China Banking Regulatory Commission was established to oversee banking activities.

• In 2008

The number of the State Council's ministries and commissions was cut from 28 to 27.

The National Energy Administration was established. The Civil Aviation Administration was placed under the administration of the Ministry of Transport. The Ministry of Environmental Protection was established on the basis of the state environmental protection administration. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security was established.

The central government vowed to improve people's livelihoods and provide better social services.

• In 2013

The number of the State Council's ministries and commissions was decreased from 27 to 25.

The ministry of railways was dismantled. The National Health and Family Planning Commission was established on the basis of the ministry of health and the national population and family planning commission.

The State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television was established on the basis of the general administration of press and publication and the State administration of radio, film and television.

- AN BAIJIE