The government has taken another substantial step forward in reducing its administrative presence, by abolishing the need for approval in some areas where citizens, legal persons or other organizations can handle the task, or where market competition mechanisms provide effective self-regulation.

In a statement on Wednesday, the State Council announced it has decided to abolish 171 administrative items that were subject to approval by the central government and hand down the power of approval for another 117 to lower-level government departments. Seventeen more will be merged into other items and nine others submitted to fewer government departments for approval.

It also said no prior approval procedures will be set in areas where post-event supervisions and indirect management prove workable.