| BEIJING, April 3 (Xinhua) -- China will take measures to reduce government-levied charges and operating service charges in order to further lessen the burden on businesses and individuals.
The personal postal articles tax rates will be lowered to expand imports and boost consumption, the State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided Wednesday. Li pledged in this year's government work report to take reform measures for lowered business-related charges. Electricity costs in manufacturing will be reduced, and the average electricity price for general industrial and commercial businesses will be cut by another 10 percent. A number of railway and port charges will be abolished or reduced. The average broadband service rates for small and medium-sized enterprises will be cut by another 15 percent and the average rates for mobile internet services by more than 20 percent. It was decided at the meeting that starting July 1, charges on real estate registration will be cut or canceled. The coverage of patent application and annual fee reductions will be expanded. Charges on exit and entry travel documents such as private passports, registration of certain trademarks, and radio frequency uses in electricity and the Internet of Vehicles will be further reduced. Significant reductions in these charges are required. | 
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