BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China will work harder this year for a more enabling business environment by tackling areas of weakness to better energize the market and stimulate social creativity, the State Council's executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on Tuesday. Premier Li Keqiang pointed out in the Government Work Report this year that the government will work to energize market entities, and maintain and increase their level of activity by improving business environment and cutting institutional transaction costs. The Tuesday meeting called for redoubled efforts to tackle the pressing issues and measure up to advanced standards in fighting the tough battle of improving the business environment. The government will further streamline administration by cutting procedural requirements, including shortening the negative list on market entry, decoupling business licenses and operating permits, simplifying the reviewing process for construction projects and reducing the types of industrial production permits. The goal is to cut the time required for starting a business to within five working days and for companies to access electricity service to within 45 working days before the end of this year. "Governments at all levels must take improving the business climate as a key measure for stimulating market dynamism. Just as the tax and fee cuts are designed to lessen corporate burdens, improving the business climate is meant to serve the same purpose. In face of fierce international competition, we must tackle all the areas of weakness in our business environment, such as access to credit as well as bankruptcy filing," Li said. |