China widens access in public services sectors

BEIJING -- The Chinese central government on Wednesday vowed to purchase more public services from social organizations and ramp up the construction of high-quality infrastructure in Chinese cities, in an effort to further unleash domestic demand.

Providing better public services in a creative way is beneficial to the people and significant for deepening reforms in social sectors, said a statement released after an executive meeting of the State Council presided over by Premier Li Keqiang.

The measure is also key to accelerating the development of the service sector and channeling effective demand. It is also a necessary requirement for building a service-oriented government, the statement said.

The central government pledged more efforts to further open market access in the public service sectors to eligible social organizations and enterprises with sound credit, according to the statement.

It said that a catalogue of guidance for government purchases of services will be drafted and relevant public services can be purchased through entrustment, contract or procurement, while transparent management of funds for purchases and a strict supervision mechanism is also stressed.

The government also plans to strengthen urban infrastructure construction to boost effective investment and consumption and to improve the quality of the country's new types of urbanization that pivot around people's livelihoods.

While carrying out non-operational, purely public projects, the government will also let the market play a better role, attracting private capital to enter operational projects that would help unleash huge market demand, according to the statement.

Areas of focus will include the construction and revamping of networks of underground pipes, sewage and household refuse treatment and recycling, gas pipe and heating system renovations, and the construction of public transportation systems, the power grid and an urban eco-environment.