Premier Wen Jiabao said on Thursday that the government's internal reforms, or self-reform, are important to the country's overall economic reform.

Wen made the remark at a State Council meeting on the country's economic state of affairs. Wen presided over the meeting.?

He said that China must push ahead with reform if it is to maintain the current momentum of economic and social development.

In a bid to speed up the government's self-reform, governments at all levels should not participate in the production or management activities of private enterprises. More important, they should not interfere with investment decisions or other similarly significant issues concerning private enterprises, Wen said.

The administrative approval system should be reformed in line with the Administrative Licensing Law. The government's administrative approval procedures should be further standardized and simplified.

Governmental functions, including market supervision and public services, should be in line with the requirements of a socialist market economy, and the considerations for social harmony, Wen said.

Wen added that democratic and reasoned decision-making processes should be furthered. Governments at all levels should observe public opinion and solicit expert viewpoints before making decisions, Wen elaborated.

Governments at all levels should voluntarily accept supervision from the legislature, democratic parties and the public, and efforts should be strengthened to fight corruption, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2005)