Chinese premier vows devolution to limit graft

The Chinese government will devolve some powers to lower levels in order to reduce scope for officials bargaining for benefits, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday, putting forward requirements for anti-corruption work in 2015.

Li made the remarks during the third meeting on clean governance, which focused on strictly managing public assets and limiting misuse of power as China's campaign against corruption continues.

The pre-approval process of investment projects will be significantly slashed this year, while all examinations for non-administrative permission will be canceled, the premier said.

He also urged the government to clean intermediary service sectors, breaking monopolies and strengthening regulation so as to eradicate the "grey zone" of administrative examinations and approvals.

The central and local governments should make lists of those who have certain powers and their responsibilities, Li proposed.

The premier said that, although significant results were made in anti-graft work last year, corruption still plagues the government in some sectors, largely because a minority of officials have so much power to give approvals and mete out benefits.

The meeting was attended by vice premiers Zhang Gaoli, Liu Yandong, Wang Yang, Ma Kai, as well as other senior officials of the State Council. Wang Qishan, secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China, attended the meeting on invitation. Endi