China News Service, February 23. In response to the progress of the decoupling reform of industry associations, chambers of commerce and administrative agencies, Deputy Minister of Civil Affairs Zhan Chengfu said on the 23rd that the initial set of decoupling reform goals and tasks were basically completed. As of the end of last year, there were 728 companies. The national industry associations and chambers of commerce and 67,491 local industry associations and chambers of commerce have basically completed the decoupling reform in accordance with the requirements of "five separations and five norms", with completion rates of 92% and 96% respectively.
On the afternoon of the 23rd, the State Council Information Office held a press conference on the reform and development of civil affairs.
At the meeting, a reporter asked: In recent years, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has been promoting the decoupling reform of industry associations, chambers of commerce and administrative agencies. My question is how is this work progressing?
What are the next considerations?
Zhan Chengfu responded that industry associations and chambers of commerce are an important part of our country’s social organizations. It is a major reform deployed by the Party Central Committee and the State Council to promote the separation of industry associations and chambers of commerce from administrative agencies. It has taken more than five years from 2015 to the present. The joint working group of trade associations, chambers of commerce and administrative agencies is decoupled. The joint working group is composed of several departments. Among them, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, in conjunction with the National Development and Reform Commission and other departments, have taken multiple measures and made full efforts.
Under the leadership of party committees and governments at all levels, the reform has achieved remarkable results, which are mainly reflected in the following four aspects.
First, the decoupling reform goals and tasks originally set have been basically completed. As of the end of last year, a total of 728 national industry associations and chambers of commerce and 67,491 local industry associations and chambers of commerce have basically completed the decoupling reform in accordance with the requirements of "five separations and five norms". The completion rates are 92% and 96% respectively.
Second, through reforms, the management system for the party building of industry associations and chambers of commerce has been straightened out, and a new mechanism for party building to lead the development of industry associations and chambers has been formed.
The party organization and work of the industry associations and chambers of commerce have been continuously advancing from "tangible coverage" to "effective coverage".
Third, through reforms, a new modern social organization system with separation of government and society, clear powers and responsibilities, and autonomy in accordance with the law has been initially established.
Fourth, through reforms, the unique advantages and functions of industry associations and chambers of commerce have become increasingly apparent.
In recent years, industry associations and chambers of commerce have played the role of government assistants, industry leaders, and corporate helpers in various aspects of economic and social development such as helping poverty alleviation, epidemic prevention and control, resumption of work and production, and foreign cooperation.
Zhan Chengfu said that more than five years of practice has proved that the decision of the Party Central Committee to decouple trade associations and chambers from administrative agencies is completely correct. The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China made arrangements to deepen the reform of industry associations and chambers of commerce. At present, we are working with the National Development and Reform Commission and other relevant departments to study and implement the important deployment of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Party. The next step is mainly to consolidate and expand the results of decoupling reforms, continue to strengthen the leadership of party building, improve comprehensive supervision, and strengthen guidance and assistance, which is commonly referred to as "helping the horse and sending a ride", so as to improve the various trade associations. This kind of function enables the industry associations and chambers of commerce after the decoupling reform to go further, more stable and better, and to give play to the unique advantages and active role of the industry associations and chambers in building a new development pattern.