李總理在政府職能改革會議上的講話

不久前，黨中央、國務院頒發了《關於地方政府職能轉變和機構改革的意見》，這是貫徹落實黨的十八大和十八屆二中全會精神作出的又一項重大決策，是指導和規範地方政府改革的重要文件。今天的會議是繼今年5月國務院機構職能轉變動員電視電話會議後又一次重要會議，主要任務是進一步統一思想，深入動員，對地方政府職能轉變和機構改革進行安排部署，把中央的決策落到實處。
Not long ago, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued the Opinion on Functional Transformation and Institutional Reform of Local Governments. That was yet another major decision made to implement the conclusions of the 18th CPC National Congress and the second plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee. It was an important document that would offer guidance and norms for the reform of local governments. Today's meeting is another important meeting following the audio-video conference in May on transforming functions of State Council institutions. Its main task is to further unify thinking and mobilize efforts, make arrangements for functional transformation and institutional reform of local governments and ensure that the decisions made at the central level are well implemented on the ground.

一、 上下聯動，做好政府改革這篇大文章
We need to effectively write the major articles of government reform by integrating central and local efforts.

如果說中央政府改革是上篇，地方政府改革就是下篇，需要整體構思、通盤考慮、上下貫通，把政府改革的整篇文章做好。地方政府職能轉變和機構改革，是黨和國家改革開放事業大局的重要內容，也是深化行政體制改革的重要組成部分。政府改革的主要目的，就是進一步理順政府和市場、政府和社會、中央和地方的關係，更好地發揮市場、社會的作用，更好地調動中央和地方兩個積極性，推動政府全面正確地履行職能，加快現代政府建設，努力促進經濟持續健康發展、社會不斷進步，不斷滿足人民羣衆的新期待、新要求。
The reform of the central government and the local governments can be described as the two parts of an article. We need to take a holistic approach to both parts and ensure that the two go well together to form a good article of government reform. The functional transformation and institutional reform of local governments is an important part of the broader reform and opening-up endeavor of the Party and the country. It is also an important component of our efforts to deepen administrative reform. The main purpose of government reform is to clearly define the relations between government and the market, between government and society and between central and local governments. Reform can also better leverage the roles of market and society, further mobilize the initiative of both central and local governments, make sure that the government fully plays its part, accelerate the development of modern government, promote sustained and sound economic growth and social progress, and meet new expectations and requirements from the public.

（一） 地方政府改革事關經濟持續發展和轉型升級。我國經濟發展到今天，要實現長期增長、持續健康發展，必須轉型升級，無論是從當前還是從長遠看，都到了轉型升級的關鍵階段。
The reform of local governments is important for sustained growth and for the transformation of the economy. Under current circumstances, if the Chinese economy is to achieve sustained and sound growth over the long run, it has to transform. Looking at the immediate and long-term needs, the Chinese economy has entered a crucial stage of transformation and upgrading.

新一屆政府成立以後，面臨的國內外經濟形勢錯綜複雜，經濟下行壓力增大；財政收入增速下滑，中央財政一度出現負增長；貨幣增量也難以再擴大，因爲池子裏的水已經很多。在這種情況下，我們把政府職能轉變和機構改革作爲開門的第一件大事，緊緊抓住不放，既作爲全面深化改革的“馬前卒”，又作爲宏觀調控的“當頭炮”。半年多來，我們保持定力、穩中有爲，創新宏觀調控方式；同時深處着力、穩中有進，下大力氣推進職能轉變、簡政放權，中央政府分四批取消和下放了300多項行政審批等事項。原來以爲，通過取消和下放審批事項激發市場活力要有一個過程，實際上這樣一個強烈的信號發出後，對市場的預期、市場的活力、社會資本的調動，雖然不能說立竿見影，但已初見成效。社會投資和創業熱情迸發，加快改革與調整結構疊加的效果，超出人們的預期。今年以來，企業登記數增長25%，其中民營和個體企業增長37%，帶動了民間投資以23%左右的速度增長，明顯超過政府性投資增速，這也是三季度經濟穩中向好的一個重要因素。通過轉變職能，把該放的權放下去、放到位，激發市場活力、需求潛力和發展的內生動力，可以有力推動結構調整、轉型升級，促進以開放帶動改革。把中央的相關權力放給地方，促進貿易和投資便利化，可以提高經濟運行效率。通過簡政放權可以做到政府不花錢能辦事或少花錢多辦事，這個道理我們要深刻領會。
When the new government took office, it was confronted with a complex economic situation both at home and abroad, with downward pressures on the rise of the Chinese economy. Growth of fiscal revenues slowed down to such a degree that the central fiscal revenue even experienced negative growth at one point. And it was difficult to further increase money supply as there had already been much water in the pool, so to speak. Under such conditions, we decided to focus on transforming government functions and reforming government institutions as the number one task for the new government. We intended to use it to kick off profound and sweeping reform and exercise effective macro control, playing the role of "soldier" and "cannon" when a Chinese chess game begins. Over the past six months and more, we have stayed focused and worked to innovate ways of macro control while maintaining stability. At the same time, we have addressed the issue at its root and made intensive efforts to seek steady progress in transforming government functions, streamlining administration and delegating power. As a matter of fact, the central government has abolished or delegated to lower levels the power of approval over more than 300 items in four batches. We thought that it would take some time for this move to unleash the vitality of the market, but as it has turned out, the strong signal sent by this move has already produced initial, if not immediate, effect in boosting market expectations, galvanizing the market and mobilizing capital from all sources. There has been a burst of enthusiasm for investment and entrepreneurship. The combined effects of accelerated reform and structural readjustments have exceeded people's expectations. Since the beginning of this year, the number of registered enterprises has risen by 25 percent. Among them, the number of registered private and individually owned enterprises has been up by 37 percent, resulting in a growth of around 23 percent in private investment, obviously faster than the growth of government investment. This was also an important factor behind the steady and improved performance of the Chinese economy in the third quarter. Transforming government functions and fully delegating all the power that should be delegated have unlocked market vitality, potential demand and inherent driving force for development. As such, they can give a strong boost to structural readjustment, transformation and upgrading, and advance reform through further opening-up. The primary objective of the establishment of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone is to promote trade and investment facilitation and enhance efficiency in economic operation through streamlining administration and power delegation. By streamlining administration and delegating power, the government can get things done without extra costs or do more with less. This is what we should fully appreciate.

改革開放35年來，各級地方黨委政府牢牢扭住經濟建設這個中心不放，爲推動我國經濟社會發展作出了巨大貢獻。今年以來，各地花了很大氣力，取得了經濟社會發展的新成效。從當前看，穩增長的壓力仍然很大，財政收入的增速不高，而改善民生的剛性支出不能減，甚至在有些方面還需增加。經濟發展靠財政支出和政府投資，靠中央再多打赤字、多增發票子，已經受到很大限制，這方面的政策空間很有限了。從長遠看，各地要實現經濟持續健康發展，再繼續走老路，靠政府擴大債務、單純經營土地，靠高投入、高消耗、高排放，也會形成過剩產能，肯定走不長，也走不通。即便短期有效，長期代價也很大。所以，對各級政府來說，無論是當前穩增長，還是長遠謀發展，都要靠改革創新。這就必須加快轉變政府職能，下決心破除審批多、辦證多、收費多、罰款多的體制機制障礙，把推動發展的着力點放到發揮企業、市場、社會力量的作用上來。
Over the past 35 years of reform and opening-up, local Party committees and governments at various levels have concentrated on the central task of economic development and made huge contributions to the economic and social development of our country. And this year, various localities have worked really hard and made new headway in economic and social development. Judging from the current situation, we are still under tremendous pressure in stabilizing growth. Fiscal revenues are only slowly growing, while the necessary spending to improve people's well-being cannot be cut and may even have to be increased in some areas. Economic growth achieved through fiscal expenditure and government investment and through more central government deficit and money supply has already come under major constraints. There is only very limited room for policy maneuver in this regard. In the long run, sustained and sound economic development will not be achieved if we continue to follow the old path. Increasing government debts, engaging in mere land transactions, and relying on excessive investment, energy consumption and emissions would also end in overcapacity. So such an approach would not go very far or lead us anywhere. Even if it does produce some short-term effects, they will come at the expense of huge long-term interests. That is why, be it for stabilizing current growth or seeking long-term development, government at all levels needs to rely on reform and innovation to release reform dividends and upgrade the economy. To achieve this, we have to accelerate transformation of government functions and make determined efforts to do away with institutional obstacles arising from excessive approvals, licences, fees and fines. We have to focus our development efforts on giving play to the roles of businesses, the market and non-government actors.（二）地方政府改革是整個政府改革的大頭。地方政府直接與企業接觸，直接聯繫人民羣衆，市場主體和人民羣衆的權益也主要通過地方政府去實現、維護和發展。在整個政府體系中，地方政府作用十分重要，我國90%以上的公務員、85%左右的財政最終支出是在地方。尤其是基層政府，屬於我們通常講的“最後一公里”。政府機構改革能不能達到預期目的，職能轉變能不能落實，很大程度上取決於地方政府。近來我們到地方調研或開座談會，許多企業家認爲，中央政府下放了許多權力，下一步還要看地方，如果地方政府改革不及時跟進，簡政放權的效果就會大打折扣。我對他們說，中央政府下了決心，真正做到位，樹立起標杆，地方政府就一定會按中央的要求去做。在當前情況下，要穩增長，簡政放權是一個極爲重要的手段。穩增長也是爲了保就業。簡政放權、取消和下放行政審批事項，激發市場活力，讓企業、社會更有創造力，就可以帶動更多的就業。如果上動下不動、頭轉身不轉，政府職能轉變和機構改革就可能變成“假改”、“虛晃一槍”。今年5月份以來，各地新一輪簡政放權取得積極成效，但受地方和部門利益影響，也出現了一些“錯放、空放、亂放”等現象。有的只下放複雜的、管理責任大的，“含金量”較高的仍然留在手中；有的放權有水分，動輒上百項，但“乾貨”不多。這裏要強調的是，在改革過程中，各地要有全局觀、大局觀，不能打“小算盤”、“小九九”，更不允許“走過場”、“變戲法”，確保簡政放權真正到位、見效。
The reform of local governments is part and parcel of overall government reform. Local governments directly interact with businesses and the public, and the rights and interests of market players and the public are realized, safeguarded and developed mainly through the local governments. The local governments have a very important role to play in the whole system of government, accounting for over 90 percent of civil servants and around 85 percent of eventual fiscal expenditures in China. It is particularly true for primary-level governments, which belong to the "last one kilometer", as we often say. Whether the reform of government institutions meets its goal as expected and whether government functions are genuinely transformed depends, to a large extent, on local governments. During our recent field trips and seminars in different localities, we have found that many entrepreneurs are looking at the local governments to deliver what the central government has already committed in power delegation. According to them, the effects of streamlining administration and delegating power at the central level will be greatly compromised if the local governments fail to proceed with corresponding reform in a timely fashion. I assured them that the central government has made up its mind, and that so long as the central government can set a good example of effectively doing what is required, the local governments will surely act to meet the requirements of the central government. Under the current circumstances, streamlining administration and delegating power is a very important means to stabilize growth. And to stabilize growth is also for the sake of ensuring employment. With administration streamlined and power delegated, some powers of administrative approval will be cancelled or delegated, which will energize the market and make the businesses and society more creative, thus generating more jobs. If only the head turns and the body stays put, the transformation of government functions and the institutional reform may become a "fake reform" or a "feinted attempt". Since last May, positive results have been achieved in the new round of efforts to streamline administration and delegate power in various localities. Yet, due to restraints of local and sectoral interests, there have been cases where powers have been wrongly or inappropriately delegated, or where only lip service has been made with no real action. In some places, only the complex powers that involve big responsibilities have been delegated, with the "more valuable power" still retained by the government. In others, there have been exaggerations. They easily claim to have delegated approval power for more than 100 items, yet few of them involve any significant power. I want to stress that in the course of reform, the local governments must take a holistic perspective and bear in mind the overall interests. They should not be narrowly preoccupied with their own local interests, still less are they allowed to play tricks or conduct reform as a mere formality. We must ensure that streamlining administration and delegating power must be effectively delivered and serve its purpose.

（三）地方政府改革對於保證中央政令暢通、發揮地方積極性十分重要。這次改革，要進一步處理好中央和地方的關係。一方面要確保中央的政令暢通。把不該管的放下去，這樣就有更多精力把該管的更好地管起來，這有利於中央的政令暢通。另一方面要把地方政府的積極性充分調動起來。我國是單一制國家，實行中央統一領導、地方分級管理的體制。對中央的大政方針，地方必須統一步調，不折不扣地貫徹執行。同時還要看到，我國是一個大國，各地情況千差萬別，發展很不平衡，必須從實際出發，發揮地方因地制宜管理經濟社會的作用。我國經濟社會發展到現在這個階段，人民羣衆的需求越來越多，層次也不一樣，政府服務事項也越來越多，也很複雜，各地要從實際出發，更加積極主動，創造性地開展工作。“上下同欲者勝”。大家心往一處想，勁往一處使，我們的事情就能辦得更好。
The reform of local governments is important to ensure the effective implementation of central government decisions and mobilize the initiative of various localities. In this round of reform, we must further straighten out the relationship between the central and local governments. We need to ensure the effective implementation of central government decisions. The central government should delegate responsibilities that it is not supposed to undertake in order to focus on matters that fall within its mandate. This will make sure that the decisions of the central government are carried out effectively. At the same time, we should fully mobilize the initiative of local governments. China is a unitary state, which practices the system of unified central leadership, with specific responsibilities distributed across different levels of local government. Major policies adopted by the central government must be strictly implemented by all local governments. However, it is also important to recognize that China is a big country, with varying conditions and uneven development across different localities. We need to bear in mind this reality and leverage the role of local governments in managing economic and social development in a way consistent with their own local conditions. At this stage of economic and social development, we are seeing more demands and more differentiated needs from the people. As a result, the services to be provided by the government are also growing in scope and complexity. In line with their respective conditions on the ground, localities should be more proactive and creative in their work. As the saying goes, "Victory can only be achieved when the army share the same goal throughout the ranks". If we can think and work with one heart and one mind, we will be able to do an even better job.

二、地方政府職能轉變要抓好“接、放、管”
"Taking over, releasing and undertaking" responsibilities is key to the transformation of local government functions.

大家可能注意到了，國務院的改革方案把“職能轉變”放進了標題，這次關於地方政府改革的意見又把“職能轉變”放到“機構改革”前面，就是爲了突出強調職能轉變。各方面普遍認爲，政府改革的核心是職能轉變，職能不轉變，機構改革也達不到目的。這次地方政府職能轉變要重點抓好“接、放、管”。接，就是把中央放給市場的權力接轉放開，把中央下放給地方的職能接好管好；放，就是把本級該放的權力切實放下去、放到位；管，就是把地方該管的事情管起來、管到位。
You may have noticed that we have included "transform government functions" in the title of the reform proposal of the State Council. This time, in the opinions on the reform of local governments, we have put "transform government functions" ahead of "institutional reform" in order to underscore the importance of transforming government functions. It is widely believed that the key to government reform lies in changing its functions. Without functional changes, institutional reform would not be able to serve its purpose. In transforming the functions of local governments this time, the priority should be placed on "taking over, releasing and undertaking" responsibilities. For local governments, "taking over" means allowing the market to take over responsibilities released by the central government, and taking over and assuming the responsibilities delegated to them by the central government; "releasing" means delegating all powers that ought to be delegated to the lower authorities in real earnest; and "undertaking" means assuming full responsibilities for matters that fall within their purview.

（一）要接好放好中央下放的審批事項。中央明令取消的審批事項，要不折不扣地放給市場、放給社會，地方不能變相保留。爲了使地方政府更有力有效、就近就便進行經濟社會管理，中央要把相應的權力下放給地方。放給省一級的，省裏要接好管好；放給市縣的，省一級要及時下放，不截留，不梗阻，市縣一級也要接好管好。最近新聞聯播報道了“蛟龍號”載人深潛器的國家深海中心基地建設，這是國家投資項目，按原來的管理審批程序，有好幾道，要蓋幾十個公章，至少要兩年。現在中央把有關權力下放給地方政府，兩個月就落地了。從這個例子看，下放權力就是解放生產力，就是提高效率。我們還要注意，下放給市場、社會的權力，要放就要真正放到位。現在有一些社會組織還是政府管理的機構，如果把權力放給這些行政化的社會組織，就可能還是在政府內部“轉圈”，要切實防止這種現象。
Local governments should properly take over or further release as required approval power delegated by the central government. Approval items that are phased out by the central government must be fully released to the market and the society, and local governments should not retain such approval power in any disguised form. The central government should also delegate certain responsibilities to the local governments for them to conduct more robust and effective economic and social management by taking advantage of their close knowledge of local communities. Where power is delegated to the provincial level, provincial governments should exercise it properly. Where power is delegated to the municipal or county level, provincial governments should not try to retain or block it, but delegate it promptly. CCTV Primetime News recently ran a story about the establishment of the national deep-sea center for the Jiaolong manned submersible. This project is funded by the central government. In the past, a number of reviews were required for such projects and dozens of seals needed to be stamped, which would take at least two years. Now that the central government has delegated the power of approval to the local government, it only took two months for the project to be approved. This example shows that delegating power can help to unleash productive forces and raise efficiency. We should also make sure that whenever power is to be given to the market and society, it must be delegated fully. Some social organizations are still overseen by the government. If power is delegated to them, it may in the end stay in government hands. This situation must be averted.（二）要最大限度地取消地方行政審批事項。省級政府對現有的審批事項要嚴格清理，該取消和下放的堅決取消下放。國務院提出，本屆政府任期5年內，至少取消和下放1/3以上的行政審批事項，省級政府也應根據實際情況提出明確要求。而且不光要看數量，還要看質量。今後省一級原則上不得新設行政審批事項。市縣一級政府本來就不能設定行政審批，但存在不少以“紅頭文件”設定的管理事項，包括登記、備案、審定、年檢、認證、監製、檢查、鑑定以及這個證、那個證等。這些雖然不叫行政審批，但對企業來說都是“門檻”，與審批沒什麼區別，而且多數是收費的。大家都看過報道，有人畫了一張行政審批的“萬里長征圖”，辦一個企業，上一個項目，要蓋上百個公章，不僅如此，還被“吃拿卡要”。中央有關部門接到投訴，經查覈，有這樣一個情況。北京一所高校的一位畢業生，回到家鄉創業，辦一個書店，在多個部門跑了30多趟，花了不少錢，歷時三個多月，總算辦起來了。但開業後，各種檢查、收費、罰款就跟着來了，沒錢就拿書，最多的一次拿走了140多本。最後，他一氣之下關門不幹了。我們非常希望在大城市上學的大學生，畢業後回到家鄉創業，帶動當地就業。但如果沒有一個好的環境，他怎麼回去創業呢？因此，要實行最嚴格的行政審批“准入制”，對於不符合法律規定、利用“紅頭文件”設定的管理、收費、罰款項目，要一律取消。國務院已經決定對商事登記制度進行改革，據瞭解，人民羣衆特別是青年人、大學生是歡迎的，都期盼着這項改革儘快落地生根，各地要抓緊把改革的配套措施落下去，讓創業“火”起來。
We should minimize the number of items subject to administrative review and approval by local governments. Provincial governments should go through the items that still require review and approval, and resolutely abolish or delegate the power of approval to lower levels when necessary. The State Council has set the goal of canceling or delegating over a third of the items requiring administrative review and approval within the five-year term of this government. The provincial governments should also set clear goals according to local realities. Delegation of power should be evaluated not only quantitatively but also qualitatively. In principle, provincial governments from now on should not set new items requiring administrative review and approval. As for municipal and county governments, they do not have such right in the first place, but there are cases where they have imposed requirements through official documents in the form of registration, archiving, verification, annual review, certification, supervision, examination, accreditation or certificates of this kind or that. These may not be called "administrative review and approval", but they all represent thresholds for companies, being hardly different from review and approval and involving the collection of fees in most cases. The government is now encouraging university students in big cities to return to their hometown after graduation to start their own business, which would be good for local employment. But without an enabling environment, how can they run a business on a sustainable basis? Therefore, we should have the strictest enforcement of a "threshold" for items requiring administrative approval. Items established via "official documents" to impose administrative management or to collect charges and fines must be abolished if they do not conform with laws and regulations. The State Council has decided to reform the business registration system. The reform, as we have learned, is welcomed by the people, especially the youth and university graduates. They all hope it could be carried out as soon as possible. Local governments should waste no time in putting in place the supporting measures so as to encourage more people to start their own businesses.

（三）要加強地方政府管理服務職能。我們說放、放到位，並不是說不管。放和管是兩個輪子，只有同時轉起來，政府改革才能順利推進。地方政府面對千千萬萬生產經營者，必須把市場監管這個職能履行到位。減少了事前審批，事中事後監管就要跟上。這次地方政府改革，要把市場監管重心下移，加強市縣政府的市場監管職能和力量，建立橫向到邊、縱向到底的監管網絡，逐步做到疏而不漏，防止再走入“一放就亂、一管就死”的怪圈。
Local governments need to enhance their functions in both regulation and services. Sufficient power delegation does not mean zero regulation. Power delegation and enhanced regulation are like the two wheels of a wagon. Only when both wheels turn can the reform of the government progress smoothly. In this sense, local governments must exercise market regulation to the full extent vis-a-vis all the producers and distributors. With reduction in pre-project approval, the government needs to step up mid- and post-project regulation. In this round of local government reform, the power of market regulation will be delegated to the lower levels, especially to the municipal and county governments. A regulation web of full coverage will be set up to leave no misconduct unattended to. In this way, we will be able to break away from the doomed cycle whereby power delegation leads to market disorder which, in turn, leads to tighter control, thus ending the transformation efforts.

地方政府抓經濟，很重要的一條，是爲各類市場主體創造統一開放、公平競爭的發展環境，這也是加強管理服務職能的一個重要方面。今後地方政府原則上不要再直接投資辦企業，地方政府直接辦企業或直接干預企業生產經營，容易在當地形成投資、產業的壟斷和市場封鎖。多年來，全國統一開放的市場完善不起來，一個重要原因就是地方保護。對一個地方來說，應該是不求所有、但求所在。這是改革開放之初南方一些地區提出的理念，實踐證明他們發展起來了。能夠發展地方經濟，增加就業，政府依法收稅，這纔是根本。地方政府抓經濟，不是當“司機”，不是直接開車上路，而是要管好“路燈”和“紅綠燈”，當好“警察”。“路燈”就是爲所有的企業照亮道路，對所有的企業一視同仁，不厚此薄彼。“紅綠燈”就是講規則，該走則走、該停則停，也對所有企業一視同仁。當好“警察”，就是加強監管，對假冒僞劣、欺行霸市、坑蒙拐騙、侵犯知識產權，特別是對食品安全等領域損害人民生命健康的違法違規行爲，要嚴懲不貸。這樣，對於遵紀守法、誠信經營的企業纔是公平的。如果監管不力，坑蒙拐騙之類的反而吃得香、走得開，就會出現“劣幣驅逐良幣”的現象。我們把更多精力放到這上面來，也是建立一個良好的市場環境，經濟轉型升級也會有一個良好的基礎。
To grow the economy, local governments should, first and foremost, create a unified, open and level-playing field for all types of market players. This is also an important way to strengthen regulation and services. Going forward, local governments, in principle, will make no direct investment in enterprises, as such investment or government direct intervention in the production and management of enterprises tends to give rise to monopoly over investment and industry and market blockade. For years, local protectionism has been a main obstacle to the development of a national, unified and open market. Local governments should not aim to own businesses operating in their localities. Rather, they should aim to play good hosts. This was the approach adopted by some local governments in southern China at the early days of reform and opening-up. What has happened since shows that the governments following this approach have seen their economy grow. For local governments, what is of fundamental importance is to grow the local economy, create more jobs, and collect taxes in accordance with law. In growing the economy, local governments should serve not as a "driver" personally riding the vehicle but as someone taking care of the "street lights" and "traffic lights" and as a "police officer". The "street lights" are intended to light the way forward for all enterprises with no discrimination. "Traffic lights" refers to rules that tell the enterprises when to go ahead and when to stop and apply to all enterprises. "Good policing" refers to more effective regulation and severe punishment for violations of laws and regulations, such as producing and selling counterfeit and substandard products, bossing and monopolizing the marketplace, cheating and swindling, infringing on intellectual property rights and, in particular, jeopardizing food safety at the expense of people's life and health. Effective regulation ensures fairness for law-abiding and honest enterprises, while ineffective regulation will allow "bad money to drive out good" and result in rampant cheating, swindling and the like. If we focus more of our efforts on enforcing the "rules of the road", we will be able to foster a better market environment and put economic transformation and upgrading on a more solid foundation.

還要改革創新監管方式，建立一套科學監管的規則和方法。過去我們在市場監管上，年度檢查、月度檢查太多了，還時不時搞“大檢查”，不是說不可以搞，但問題是查誰不查誰、罰誰不罰誰、罰多還是罰少，隨意性太大。在這方面，我們可以借鑑一些國家的做法，對監管對象按確定的比例隨機抽查。隨機不是隨意，而是有規則。比如100家企業，規定每年抽查百分之幾，通過“搖號”來確定，被搖上的，就一查到底。也可以委託給第三方去查。一旦發現有違法行爲，就要重罰，讓違法者無利可圖，甚至傾家蕩產。同時要建立健全經營異常名錄和黑名單制度，把問題企業和違法經營者列進去，用技術手段來保證這個制度的剛性，一旦被列進去，任憑找什麼關係、走什麼“路子”都抹不掉。一次經營違法，可能終身不能在這個領域從業。有這樣一個具有普遍震懾作用的制度，所有企業都感到頭上有一把劍，僥倖心理就會越來越少。誠信經營的，半夜不怕鬼敲門；坑蒙拐騙的，說不定哪一天被“搖”上，就要付出難以承受的代價。這樣也可以規範政府監管人員的行爲，降低監管成本，提高監管效率。各地可以在這方面進行探索。
We also need to reform and innovate ways of supervision and establish a set of scientific rules and methods of supervision. In the past, we had too many annual and monthly market inspections and even staged "inspection campaigns" from time to time. I am not saying that such inspections are to be banned altogether, but they should not be done without clearly defined rules to follow as to whom to inspect, whom to punish and how severe the penalty should be in case of irregularities. Here, we can borrow the practice of other countries, such as conducting proportionate random inspections on entities under supervision. Random inspections are not inspections at will; on the contrary, there are rules to follow. For example, if there are 100 enterprises under supervision, then every year, a preset percentage of them will be selected through a lottery draw to receive thorough inspection. We can also entrust a third party to conduct the inspections. Those who violate the law, once found, are subject to punishments enough to make their violations unprofitable and even lead to their bankruptcy. At the same time, we need to establish a complete catalogue of enterprises with irregular operations and a system of blacklisting, and ensure their rigidity through technical methods. Problem enterprises and illicit operators, once listed, cannot have their names removed no matter what connections they have or what strings they pull. One single irregularity in a certain business will mean life-long exclusion. Such a system, with its universal deterrence, serves as a sword hanging over the heads of all business operators, who may be deterred from taking chances. The honest ones are never worried that the devil might call at night but the swindlers are always in fear of unbearable cost once their luck runs out. This system can also help standardize the conduct of government regulators, and lower the cost and improve the efficiency of regulation. Local governments may make explorations in this area.

搞好保障民生的基本公共服務，也是地方政府需要加強的管理服務職能。這方面，政府的責任主要還是保住基本、補上短板、兜好底線，促進社會公正。現在一些地方保基本的內容走了樣，“雪中送炭”的事還沒做好，卻熱衷於搞“錦上添花”。有的義務教育學校變成了所謂“貴族學校”，有的養老院也過於豪華。政府把什麼都包起來，把什麼費用都免了，看似是在做好事，但實際上包不住、也包不起，社會力量又進不來，因爲即使保本微利也難以平等競爭。我們要多動腦筋，調動市場力量來發展服務業。但政府必須把保基本的責任履行到位。最近，國務院明確提出要強化社會救助制度建設，用這個制度來託底。只有把底托住，不讓衝破社會道德和心理底線的事情屢屢發生，才能更有力地推進市場化改革，這也是社會主義市場經濟的應有之義。
To ensure basic public services essential to people's livelihood is another administrative function local governments need to enhance. In this aspect, the primary responsibilities of the government are to meet people's basic needs, address weak links and ensure that poor people have something to fall back on to promote social equity. Some local authorities have misinterpreted what basic services are about. They have been busily embroidering more flowers on the brocade rather than sending charcoal to the needy on a snowy winter day, so to speak. Some compulsory education schools have been turned into so-called "noble schools" — schools for the rich. Some nursing homes are far too luxurious. It may look good if the government tries to provide for everything free of charge, but in reality, this is unrealistic and unaffordable. And it would also make it hard for the private sector players to get in, because they can hardly compete even when they run businesses at a thin profit margin. We need to think hard and mobilize market forces into developing the services sector. Meanwhile the government must earnestly fulfill its responsibility of ensuring basic services. Recently, the State Council stressed the importance of strengthening the social aid system to meet people's essential needs. If we are to advance market-oriented reform more vigorously, we must improve this system to prevent such things from happening that are beyond the limits of people's moral and psychological tolerance. This is also what is intended by the socialist market economy.要更加重視基層政府建設。大家常說，“上面千條線，下面一根針”。縣（市）和鄉鎮政府，還有城市市區政府及派出機構，直接和人民羣衆打交道，直接爲人民羣衆服務。廣大基層幹部工作很辛苦，收入也不高，有的地方連工資都不能正常發放。可以說一些亂罰款、亂收費也與此有關。我們要給基層幹部更多的關心，爲他們的生活和工作提供切實保障，特別是不能拖欠工資。中央對地方的轉移支付，要優先考慮廣大基層幹部的工資發放。
We need to place greater importance on the building of community-level governments. As people often say, "Authorities at higher levels are like thousands of threads and governments at the community level are the single needle that weaves". Governments in counties (cities), townships, and urban districts and resident offices directly interact with and serve the people. We need to care more about community-level officials and provide sufficient support for their life and work. In particular, there must be no wage arrears. In the transfer payments from the central to local governments, priority should be given to wage payment for community-level officials.

三、地方機構改革要搞好“控、調、改”
Local institutional reform should focus on "control, adjustment and change".

古人說，“善政必簡”。這次地方政府機構改革，要着力搞好“控、調、改”。控，就是嚴格控制機構編制總量；調，就是調整優化機構編制結構；改，就是通過深化改革推動機構編制釋放潛力。
One old saying has it that, "A good government is a slim government". This round of local government institutional reform must ensure success in "exercising control, making adjustment and promoting change". "Control" refers to strictly controlling the total size of government staff. "Adjustment" refers to making adjustments and improvements to the personnel structure. And "change" refers to unleashing staff potential through deepening reform.

（一） 要嚴控機構編制總量。這次改革要把握住兩條硬槓槓：一是對地方政府機構設置實行總額限制，控制政府規模。二是確保財政供養人員只減不增，這是本屆政府向全社會的承諾，難度雖大，但我們要言必信、行必果。爲什麼要嚴控機構編制總量？從現實情況看，各級財政收入不太可能再像過去那樣高速增長了，而財政供養人員多，往往“食之者衆，生之者寡”，本屆政府組建半年多，一些地區和部門又陸續提出增編要求，不控制將難以爲繼。現在機構編制總量已經很大，疊牀架屋，效率低下，甚至滋生腐敗，影響政府形象，也影響努力工作的公務人員的積極性，最終損害的是人民羣衆利益。
The size of government staffing must be put under rigorous control. In this round of reform, we must observe two principles: one is to set a limit on the total number of local government agencies in order to control government size; the other is to make sure government payroll will only shrink and not expand. This is a commitment this government has made to the entire population. Difficult as it is, a promise is a promise and we will honor it with good faith. Why do we need to strictly control the size of government staffing? Given the current situation, government revenues at various levels are unlikely to see fast growth as in the past. With a large payroll, we will, more often than not, end up in a situation where the little produced by the few will soon be depleted by the many who consume. In just half a year since the formation of this government, some localities and departments have again asked to increase their staffing. Without control, the problem will go from bad to worse. The size of government staffing is already very big. Duplicating responsibilities and overlapping portfolios will not only lead to inefficiency, but even breed corruption. It will tarnish government image and dampen the enthusiasm of those hardworking civil servants. Eventually, it is the interest of the people that is at stake.

（二）要調整優化機構編制結構。現在機構編制不是總量不夠，而是結構不合理，機構編制資源沒有配置好。一方面，需要加強的重點領域和關鍵環節，有的人手不夠，該管的甚至沒人管；另一方面，已經弱化的領域，機構編制沒有及時減下來，造成人浮於事。在嚴控總量的情況下，調整優化機關和事業單位機構編制結構，潛力很大。這兩年，推進事業單位分類改革，通過清理規範，就已經覈銷了一部分編制。現在有些機關上面很大、下面很細，成了鴕鳥。各地要下決心，該加強的加強，該弱化的弱化，特別要加強基層、加強一線，把上級機關“瘦身”與基層一線“強身”統籌考慮，把編制結構調整好。
The organization and staffing structure of government agencies should be adjusted and improved. The problem at hand is not insufficient size, but poor structure and a misallocation of resources in terms of organizational setup and staffing. On the one hand, there is a shortage of hands in those key areas and links that should be strengthened, and government responsibilities that should be taken care of are even left unattended. On the other hand, in areas already identified as requiring less government attention, the agencies fail to streamline accordingly, resulting in overstaffing. While capping the overall size, we should also see the great potential in adjusting and improving the organizational and staffing structure of government agencies and public institutions. Over the past two years, we have been advancing reform of public institutions based on different categories and have removed some agencies and positions through rectification and regulation. Right now, some government agencies have fat bodies and thin legs, like an ostrich. Local governments must be determined to strengthen those institutions that should be strengthened and scale back those where it is necessary. In particular, the grassroots level and the frontline of government institutions should be fortified. When we make adjustments to the organizational and staffing structure, we have to give consideration to the need of slimming down higher-level governments while beefing-up those at the grassroots level.

（三）要通過深化改革滿足事業發展的需要。嚴控機構編制總量、調整結構，根本上還是要靠深化改革、創新管理。從多年經驗看，不改革、不創新，就很難跳出“精簡—膨脹—再精簡—再膨脹”的怪圈。近年來一些地方在推進機構改革上進行了積極有效的探索。有的地方推行大部門制改革，整合多個部門的市場監管職能和資源，構建統一的大市場監管體系，提升了服務管理水平和效率。有的地方實行編制實名制，對編外的、混編的都明確登記在冊，並且向社會公開，讓社會監督，從制度和管理上解決“吃空餉”、在編不在崗、虛報冒領財政資金等問題。這些方面的改革，各地要繼續大膽探索，及時總結經驗加以推廣。中央各部門不得以任何形式干預地方機構設置和編制調整。
Reform should be deepened to meet our needs for development. To control the size and adjust the structure of government agencies and staffing, the key is to deepen reform and innovate management. Experience over the years shows that without reform and innovation, it is very difficult to break the vicious cycle of streamlining-swelling-streamlining again-swelling again. In recent years, some localities have made good and effective explorations in institutional reform. Some have consolidated the market regulation functions and resources of several departments into one bigger department in order to build a unified, overarching market regulation system and thereby upgrading the quality and efficiency of its services and management. Some localities follow a real-name staffing system. All outside personnel, including those borrowed from government-affiliated institutions, are entered into records and disclosed to the public for scrutiny, effectively closing institutional and management loopholes that allow people to freeload, stay on the payroll without reporting for duty or make false claims for government funding. All local governments are encouraged to boldly explore reforms aimed at addressing these issues and good experience should be promptly summarized and shared. No central government agency may interfere in any way with the readjustment of local organizational setup and staffing.

地方政府改革是一場自我革命，涉及面廣、觸及利益深。各地要按照中央的統一部署，把這項改革作爲一項重要工作。要民意爲先、舍利爲公，敢啃“硬骨頭”，義無反顧、一抓到底。要與開展黨的羣衆路線教育實踐活動結合起來，與貫徹落實中央八項規定結合起來，實現相互推動、相互促進。省級黨委政府要負總責，主要領導要親自抓，加強對本地區改革的指導和督促檢查。各級政府要認真制定改革方案，明確改革的時間節點和任務分工，強化責任，遇到重大問題及時向中央報告。中央有關部門要加強指導、協調和督查。要嚴格機構編制紀律，對違反紀律的，要嚴肅查處。
Local government reform is a self-initiated revolution. It will involve many quarters and shake up vested interests. All localities must follow the unified arrangements of the central authorities and put this reform high on their agenda. They must put public opinion and interests first and display the courage to crack hard nuts and see the reform through without ever letting up. This reform should be combined with the campaign to study and practice the mass line of the CPC and the implementation of the "eight rules" of the CPC Central Committee so that these efforts will reinforce each other. Provincial Party committees and governments should assume overall responsibility for the reform. Leading officials must personally take charge and do more to guide, supervise and monitor the reform process in their respective jurisdictions. Government at all levels must develop plans with all seriousness, specify the timeline and task breakdown, hold themselves strictly accountable and report immediately to the central authorities whenever major issues arise. Competent authorities at the central level must strengthen guidance, coordination and supervision. Discipline in organizational setup and staffing must be strictly observed, and violations shall be dealt with without leniency.