China aims to cut the number of officials in the governmental departments at the township level in the coming five years to alleviate burdens on farmers.

Li Shichun, an official with the committee of organizational structure (COS) of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said that most of the income of township level government comes from agriculture.

Li said the township governments must streamline the structure and control the number of officials so as to ease the burden of farmers.

In order to ensure the realization of the goal, an inspection team made up of officials from the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, COS of the CPC Central Committee, Ministry of Supervision and Ministry of Finance inspected eight towns in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Local governments are also required to make good arrangements for the reemployment of redundant staff members and maintain social stability.

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2005)