Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has called for actively and smoothly deepening administrative reform so as to accelerate the functional shift of the government and improve its efficiency.

Hu, concurrently state president, made the above remarks Tuesday afternoon at a lecture attended by the members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. The lecture was given by two university professors Ma Huaide and Shi Jichun.

In his speech, Hu said administrative reform is necessary for implementing sustainable development, improving the socialist market economy, and building a socialist country ruled by law.

China's existing administrative system remains incompatible with the country's economic and social development, he said.

Under the circumstances of a socialist market economy, Hu said, the main functions of the government are economic readjustment, market supervision, social affairs management, and public service.

Administrative reform will be focused on changing the functions of the government and continuing to push forward the separation of government from enterprises, capital, institutions, and intermediate market organs.

The government will be made to strengthen and improve macro-economic control, and reduce and regularize administrative regulations.

Administration should be more scientific and democratic. In setting up a transparent administrative system, efforts should be made to improve the mechanism of supervision, in accordance with law, by the NPC (National People's Congress), CPPCC (Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), judicial departments, the people, and the media, Hu said.

Highlighting that administrative restructuring is a major political work, Hu said the reform must be pushed forward actively and smoothly, under the leadership of the Communist Party and the requirements of economic and social development, and up to the aspiration of the people.

He also urged Party members to learn from the country's past experience and foreign practice in the field.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2005)