Premier Li Keqiang said Sunday that the Chinese government will cut the existing 1,700 administrative approval items by at least one third in the coming five years.

The reform of streamlining government functions will start from the system of administrative approval system, said Li at a press conference after the national legislative session closed. [More about the press conference]

He admitted that the current government approval system has affected efficiency and might cause corruption.

"The reform is about curbing government power. As a self-imposed revolution, it will require real sacrifice and will be painful," he said.

However, since the reform is demanded by the development and needed by the people, the new government is determined to make the sacrifice, he said.

At the first session of the 12th National People's Congress, lawmakers adopted a cabinet restructuring plan, which reduced the number of ministries under the State Council from 27 to 25, with the dismantling of the bulky Ministry of Railways and mergers among several other government departments.

When asked whether the plan is ideal, Li said to get things done, one always need to strike a balance between ideal and reality.

The core of the plan is to transform government functions, redefine and rationalize the relations between the government and the market and society, he said.

"We need to leave to the market and society what they can do well. The government needs to manage well the matters that fall in its province," he said.