(Economic Observation) The National Regular Meeting to focus on the innovation of the business environment releases the signal of benefiting enterprises and the people

　　China News Service, Beijing, September 9th, title: Focus on the business environment innovation pilot National Standing Committee releases the signal of benefiting enterprises and people

　　China News Agency reporter Liu Liang

　　Business environment issues are on the official table in China.

The State Council Executive Meeting held a few days ago (referred to as the "National Standing Committee") pointed out that China will carry out pilot business environment innovations in some cities, and support local governments to deepen reforms first, and make greater efforts to benefit enterprises and the people.

Among them, many policy measures not only focus on the pain points of the development of market entities, but also are particularly concerned about issues in the field of people's livelihood.

Pilot projects in some cities

　　Official data show that as of the end of July this year, the total number of entities in the Chinese market has grown from 55 million in 2012 to 146 million, with an average annual net increase of more than 10 million.

Behind the rapid growth of market entities, it is inseparable from the continuous optimization of China's business environment in recent years.

　　It was decided at the meeting that while implementing the "Regulations on Optimizing the Business Environment" and promoting the creation of a market-oriented, legalized and international business environment across the country, six market entities including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen should be selected. Cities, focusing on market players and people’s concerns, benchmarking against advanced international standards, further deepening the reform of “delegation, regulation, and service”, and launching pilot projects for business environment innovation.

　　“Huge market players are a necessary force for China’s economic development, the main force for entrepreneurship and employment, and an important force for technological innovation." Tian Lihui, Dean of the Institute of Financial Development of Nankai University, pointed out that the healthy development of market players not only requires a business environment Optimization also requires the support of various aspects such as the improvement of corporate governance and management mechanisms.

　　In fact, it is not accidental that the aforementioned cities were "selected" as pilot cities.

Take Beijing as an example. Beijing is one of the sample cities that the World Bank assesses the business environment in China.

In the Doing Business Report released by the World Bank in 2019, Beijing's score exceeded that of some EU countries and OECD member states.

In addition, according to the World Bank report, Beijing ranks among the top 30 in the world in five indicators: starting a business, obtaining electricity, registering property, protecting small and medium investors, and executing contracts.

　　Chen Fengying, a researcher at the China Institute of Modern International Relations, believes that the above-mentioned cities have a relatively high level of market economy development, which can better provide a basis for material and institutional construction for pilot work, and will also help accumulate experience for later promotion of policies throughout the country.

Directly hit the pain points of market entities

　　This time the State Council also issued a “big gift package” of policy combinations for the above-mentioned six cities. When many policies are released, they also directly hit the development pain points of market players.

　　For example, in order to establish a fair and orderly market system, the meeting pointed out that in pilot cities, regional division and local protection will be further eliminated, and the construction of a unified, open, and orderly competitive market system will be promoted.

Remove unreasonable restrictions on enterprises' cross-regional operations.

Break down the hidden barriers to foreign companies in areas such as government procurement.

　　In order to reduce the "burden" of market entities entering and exiting, the meeting proposed that at the same time as the issuance of physical licenses, electronic business licenses, etc. should be issued simultaneously to facilitate enterprises' online work.

Streamline bank account opening procedures and shorten account opening time.

Promote the “multiple reporting in one” of annual reports for market supervision, social security, and taxation.

　　In order to improve the efficiency of service market entities, the meeting also emphasized the establishment of a compensation and relief mechanism for the damage to the legitimate interests of enterprises due to policy changes and planning adjustments.

Improve the unified registration system for movable property and rights guarantees.

Accelerate the breaking of information islands, expand the scope of system interconnection and data sharing between departments and localities, promote the resolution of the problem of repeated submission of materials by market entities, and promote more matters to be handled online and at one time.

　　In Tian Lihui's view, "efficiency, fairness, and happiness" are the important guidance of the above-mentioned measures.

For example, the issuance of electronic business licenses can improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary time wastage, and achieve efficient management; compensation and relief mechanisms make up for the losses caused to enterprises due to policy changes, stabilize their expectations, and are a manifestation of social justice; data Sharing, network office, one-time completion, effectively improve office efficiency, promote productivity development, reduce the burden on operators, and enhance the happiness of the people.

Strengthen people's livelihood protection measures

　　The purpose of the continuously optimized business environment is to better benefit the people.

The policies disclosed at the National Convention are also closely related to people's livelihood.

　　As pointed out at the meeting, before land supply, government departments should carry out a package of assessments on geological disasters, soil and water conservation, etc., to strengthen responsibilities.

The enterprise can start construction after acquiring the land, without repeating the argumentation.

Implementation of notification commitment management and online parallel processing for construction permits for municipal access projects such as water, electricity, heating, etc.

　　The meeting also emphasized the implementation of a punitive compensation system in areas related to the lives and health of the people, such as food, medicine, vaccines, and safety.

Improve the long-term mechanism for curbing arbitrary charges, arbitrary fines, and arbitrary apportionment.

　　In Chen Fengying's view, people's livelihood is no trivial matter. The pilot cities focus on food, medicine, safety, vaccines and other issues, all revealing the official attention to people's livelihood issues and the policy orientation surrounding "benefiting the people" and "for the people".

Strengthening safeguard measures in the field of people's livelihood not only puts on a "tightening curse" for bad market behavior from the system, but also makes the people more comfortable and relieved.

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