Shandong provincial government has responded quickly with a ?Government Streamlining Project? to the administrative challenges brought about by China?s entry into the World Trade Organization and global economic competition and cooperation.

One of Shandong?s top goals is to speed up the reform of the administrative approval system. It is reported that last year Shandong cut down the number of projects for administrative approval by 40 percent. This year will see a cut of 50 percent more. Furthermore, Shandong will implement an approval system with time limit by simplifying the approval procedure.

Shandong Customs has promised to grant clearance within one work day on duty-free goods and goods exempt from customs examination. The provincial Development Planning Commission has pledged to wind up approval within five work days on any investment project. The provincial Environmental Protection Agency has reduced the previous 60 days for reviewing and approving an electronic and computer assembly project to 15 days. The inspection and quarantine office of Shandong can handle emergency cases at any time and accept applications from enterprises through phone calls or fax.

According to Acting Governor Zhang Gaoli, remarkable changes will take place in Shandong after the implementation of ?Government Streamlining Project.? The service awareness of governmental organizations will be enhanced, and the tempo of work will be speeded up obviously. The environment of economic development will be improved greatly. Government will win the public trust through excellent services.

(Xinhua News Agency, translated by Wang Qian for china.org .cn, April 23, 2002)