Premier Li inspects administrative reform in Zhejiang

A 49-year-old entrepreneur solemnly pressed the print button on a self-service terminal, and a brand-new business license was slowly sent out from the machine.

The scene took place on Sept. 27, when Premier Li Keqiang inspected the comprehensive service hall of China (Zhejiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang province.

In the past, redundant paper materials were required for the registration of a company, and multiple departments and windows were involved.

However, nowadays, enterprises only need to submit materials on the full electronic registration platform, and print relevant licenses on self-service terminal after those materials received parallel approval from multiple departments, which really makes effective use of data and facilitates people.

This is only one example of Zhejiang's efforts in the reform of streamlining administration, delegating powers and improving regulations and services.

In recent years, the province promised the public that they could handle government affairs by coming to the service hall only once, which has been included in this year's government work report.

Premier Li asked several people whether the government lived to what it said, and they all answered "yes". The Premier was satisfied, saying the bottom line of administrative reform is not to trouble enterprises or the public, while the true goal is to bring convenience to them. "Zhejiang should take the lead in the reform, accumulating more experience for building first-class business environment," he added.

The Premier also heard a report on social insurance premium collection by a local tax bureau chief and asked randomly work staff and enterprise owners at the service hall whether there are any changes about enterprises' social insurance premiums.

Several enterprise owners told the Premier there were no changes for now and Premier Li asked one, who came to shake hands with the Premier, whether he knows latest rules about social insurance premium collection.

When he got a positive answer, Premier Li said that it is forbidden to make an unauthorized collection and related departments are studying to further reduce social insurance contribution rate. In general, enterprises' burden will not be raised, he stressed.