Full text of Chinese Premier's teleconference address on streamlining administration procedures, cutting red tape

李克強在全國推進簡政放權放管結合職能轉變工作電視電話會議上的講話

Streamline Administration, Delegate Power, Strengthen Regulation and Improve Service to Deepen Administrative Reform and Transform Government Functions
-- The teleconference address on streamlining administration procedures, cutting red tape
May 12, 2015
Li Keqiang

簡政放權 放管結合 優化服務 深化行政體制改革 切實轉變政府職能
——在全國推進簡政放權放管結合職能轉變工作電視電話會議上的講話
（2015年5月12日）
李克強

The major tasks of this conference are to review and summerize the situation of streamlining administration, delegating power, strengthening regulation and transforming government functions over the past two years and more, and deploy key tasks for the next phase to further deepen the reform.
這次會議的主要任務，就是回顧總結兩年多來簡政放權、放管結合、政府職能轉變情況，部署下一階段的重點工作，把改革推向縱深。

I. To deepen administrative reform and transform government functions are a strong driving force behind and an important guarantee for development.
一、深化行政體制改革、轉變政府職能，是促進發展的強大動力和重要保障

To transform government functions lies at the core of administrative reform. Economic reform is essentially about striking a balance between the government and the market by enabling the market to play a decisive role in resources allocation and the government to function better. The first task this government undertook after taking office is to advance administrative reform and transform government functions, with streamlining administration, delegating power and strengthening regulation being the first moves. For years, excess intervention and stifling supervision by the government over microeconomic activities as well as too much emphasis on review and approval to the neglect of regulation have sapped economic vitality, incurred high administrative costs and provided breeding grounds for corruption. To streamline administration, delegate power and strengthen regulation is a crucial step to address these acute problems. It tackles the crux of administrative and economic reform and what matters the most in improving the socialist market economy and enhancing social development. It is fair to say that this reform is right at the heart of all reforms with wide-ranging implications.
黨的十八大以來，以習近平同志為總書記的黨中央對深化行政體制改革提出了明確要求。十八屆二中全會指出，轉變政府職能是深化行政體制改革的核心。十八屆三中全會強調，經濟體制改革的核心問題是處理好政府和市場的關系，使市場在資源配置中起決定性作用和更好發揮政府作用。本屆政府成立伊始，開門辦的第一件大事就是推進行政體制改革、轉變政府職能，把簡政放權、放管結合作為“先手棋”。長期以來，政府對微觀經濟運行干預過多、管得過死，重審批、輕監管，不僅抑制經濟發展活力，而且行政成本高，也容易滋生腐敗。推進簡政放權、放管結合，就是解決這些突出矛盾和問題的關鍵一招，也緊緊抓住了行政體制改革和經濟體制改革的核心，把握了完善社會主義市場經濟體制、加強社會建設的要害。可以說，這項改革是“牛鼻子”，具有牽一發動全身的重要作用。

Over the past two years and more, notable results have been achieved in streamlining administration, delegating power and strengthening regulation. State Council agencies have canceled or delegated administrative approval power for 537 items, meeting two years ahead of schedule the pledged target of cutting the number of items requiring administrative approval by one third within the term of this government. The number of investment projects subject to central government approval is down by 76%. All overseas investment projects but for a few exceptional cases can now proceed without administrative approval. For companies seeking registration, they can have their business licenses issued to them before getting administrative permits; 85% of the matters that once needed pre-registration approval now only require post-registration approval; with regard to capital registration, the paid-in capital scheme has been replaced with a pledged capital scheme; and annual business inspections have been canceled in favor of annual information disclosure. The number of qualification accreditation and performance appraisal has been cut dramatically. At the central government level, 420 administrative fees and government managed funds have been abolished or reduced, relieving businesses and individuals of their financial burden by nearly 100 billion yuan every year. While delegating power, the government has taken measures to strengthen regulation both during and after projects. Local governments at all levels are earnestly implementing the decisions and plans of the central government and stepping forward to take over, delegate or fulfill responsibilities accordingly. Some provinces have moved faster in this regard, canceling or delegating administrative approval power for over half or, in the highest case, 70% of the matters. In some provinces, non-administrative approval has even become something of the past.
兩年多來，簡政放權、放管結合工作取得明顯成效。國務院部門共取消或下放行政審批事項537項，本屆政府承諾減少三分之一的目標提前兩年多完成。投資核準事項中央層面減少76%，境外投資項目核準除特殊情況外全部取消。工商登記實行“先照后證”，前置審批事項85%改為后置審批；注冊資本由實繳改為認繳，企業年檢改為年報公示。資質資格許可認定和評比達標表彰事項大幅減少。中央層面取消、停征、減免420項行政事業性收費和政府性基金，每年減輕企業和個人負擔近千億元。在放權的同時，采取措施加強事中事后監管。地方各級政府認真貫徹中央決策部署，積極做好“接、放、管”工作。有些省份進展較快，行政審批事項取消和下放比例超過一半、最高的達70%，有的省級非行政許可已全面取消。

These reform measures have achieved multiple purposes. They have effectively emancipated productivity, unleashed market vitality and social creativity, helped with efforts to stabilize growth, adjust economic structure and improve people's livelihood, and facilitated the government in building governance capacity and a cleaner government. New market players have mushroomed, reaching 12.93 million last year with a 45.9% increase in the number of newly registered businesses. Despite the economic slowdown, 13.22 million new jobs were created in cities and townships. In the first four months of this year, the number of newly registered businesses grew by 10,000 every day on average and 4.45 million urban jobs were added. Over the last two years, faced with complicated domestic and external developments and growing downward pressure on the economy, we did not resort to massive short-term stimulus. Rather, we innovated the way we regulate the macro economy and deepened reform in all respects. As a result, the economy has continued to run within a reasonable range; records for job creation have been repeatedly set and broken; and the Chinese economy has remained among the fastest-growing major economies in the world. This is largely attributable to the effect of reforms including those to streamline administration and delegate power.
這一系列改革舉措有力解放和發展了生產力，激發了市場活力和社會創造力，促進了穩增長、調結構、惠民生，也推動了政府治理能力提升和廉政建設，取得了一舉多得的成效。新增市場主體呈現“井噴式”增長，去年達1293萬戶，其中新注冊企業增長45.9%；盡管經濟增速放緩，但城鎮新增就業仍達到1322萬人。今年一至四月份，新注冊企業繼續保持每天1萬戶，城鎮新增就業445萬人。這兩年，在國內外形勢錯綜復雜、我國經濟下行壓力加大的情況下，我們沒有采取短期強刺激措施，而是創新宏觀調控方式，全面深化改革，使經濟運行保持在合理區間，就業連創歷史新高，增長速度在世界主要經濟體中名列前茅，其中簡政放權等改革紅利的釋放發揮了關鍵作用。

Reforms to streamline administration and delegate power have produced initial results, but they fall far short of what is expected by our people and what is needed by economic and social development. For one thing, the government, which still tends to overreach itself, has yet to relinquish power to the necessary extent. What's more, measures aimed at streamlining administration and delegating power are yet to be implemented fully. While obstruction abounds in the middle of implementation, there are also problems with both the first and the last miles in implementation, so to speak. This is partly due to the absence of the right mindset and management modality. It also has something to do with resistance from local and departmental vested interests. Businesses and members of the public complain that quite a few matters still need review and approval, only in a different form. The once explicit requirement for government approval has morphed into an implicit requirement for approval from intermediaries with government background. There remain multitudes of documents to be submitted for review and approval and a raft of procedures to go through. For many, the process of getting something done remains lengthy and difficult, because agencies are in the habit of shirking responsibilities to each other, seals and certificates of one kind or another are still a must, and there is a lot of toing and froing. Take the business registration reform for example. It is true that companies are now able to obtain a business license without first acquiring an administrative permit. But even with a license in hand, many people keep running into all sorts of difficulties, and sometimes they cannot get their businesses up and running simply because of a single missing permit, whose requirement may sound rather ridiculous. As a matter of fact, this can happen to officials present at today's conference as well as ordinary people. I believe you or your family members would encounter many of the above-mentioned problems in areas outside your purview. In the global context, according to the 2015 World Bank Doing Business Report, China ranks 90th out of 189 economies, though three places higher than last year. Too many restrictions like administrative approval are largely to blame. The ubiquitous requirement for approval, certificates, seals and documents of various types is a waste of time and energy for any individual and a source of fret and frustration. It consumes the human and material resources of a company and costs it market opportunities. It undermines justice and equity of a society, dampens entrepreneurship and innovation and, worst of all, suppresses productivity. It impairs the image and authority of a government and affects public mood and opinion. If no steps are taken to remove these constraints on social productivity, the shared interests of the entire Chinese population will suffer and the process of the great national rejuvenation of China will be held up.
簡政放權等改革雖初見成效，但與人民群眾的期待和經濟社會發展要求相比，還有很大差距。一方面，政府一些該放的權還沒有放，手伸得還是太長；另一方面，已出臺的簡政放權措施尚未完全落實到位，“中梗阻”現象大量存在，“最后一公里”還沒有完全打通。當然，“最先一公里”也存在問題。這里面既有思想認識不到位、管理方式不適應的原因，也有地方和部門利益在作梗。企業和基層反映，不少審批事項只是換了個“馬甲”，從明的轉成暗的、從上面轉到下面、從政府轉到與政府有關的中介，審批服務中的各種“要件”、程序、環節等還是關卡林立。比如，穩增長必須發揮投資的關鍵作用，而當前投資仍處于下行狀態，像重大水利工程、中西部鐵路、棚戶區改造、城市基礎設施等，有的項目批了，中央投資也到位了，但就是遲遲開不了工，錢也花不出去。到3月底，地方國庫庫存余額創歷史同期最高水平。其中有不作為的問題，但確實還有審批慢、審批難、環節多的問題，影響了投資進度。同時不少群眾反映，辦事還是存在難與慢，部門之間經常扯皮，這個章那個證還是很多，經常被折騰來折騰去。比如，商事制度改革實現了“先照后證”，有些人反映拿了照以后還是碰到層層阻礙。缺一個“證”，企業就運行不了。一些誰聽了都會覺得荒唐的“證”仍然存在。其實不只是普通群眾，就是今天參加會議的領導干部，離開你管的“一畝三分地”，自己或家屬辦事也會遇到諸如此類的不少難題。另外，從國際比較來看，世界銀行發布了全球2015年營商環境報告，我國雖比上年上升3位，但在189個經濟體中仍排在第90位，主要原因還是各類行政審批等管制措施太多。名目繁多、無處不在的審批“當關”、證明“圍城”、公章“旅行”、公文“長征”，對個人來說，耗費的是時間和精力，增添的是煩惱和無奈；對企業來說，浪費的是人力和物力，貽誤的是市場機遇；對社會來說，削弱的是公平和公正，擠壓的是創業創新空間，尤其是抑制勞動生產率提高；對黨和政府來說，影響的是形象和威信，挫傷的是人心民意。對此，如果不努力加以改變，束縛社會生產力的發展，損害的是全體人民的共同利益，延誤的是中華民族的偉大復興進程。

Under the new historical circumstances, reform measures such as streamlining administration and scaling back administrative power are no expediency but important steps that both deliver short-term benefits and meet long-term needs. To realize the dual objectives of maintaining a medium-high-level growth rate and moving toward a medium-high-level of development, we need to foster new growth drivers through such reform as streamlining administration and scaling back administrative power. With a fluid situation, the world economic recovery is an uphill journey. The Chinese economy has entered a state of "new normal" and a critical stage where we need to deal simultaneously with slower economic growth, difficult structural adjustments, and the impacts of previous economic stimulus measures. In the first quarter this year, the economy faced many headwinds, but thanks to the targeted regulation measures we adopted since the second half of last year, the downward pressure has been somewhat offset. Now the economic performance is stable on the whole, with positive trends seen in some aspects. For instance, the surveyed unemployment rate dropped in April and industry has been rebounding. But still we are under considerable pressure in other aspects, for example investment is further decreasing. We must roll out more effective measures to sustain the upward momentum and resist the downward pressure. Fundamentally speaking, this requires the government to streamline administration and scale back its administrative power, ease restrictions and strengthen regulation where necessary, and improve services. We have both the confidence to keep the economic performance within a proper range, and the capability to reach the main goals for this year and maintain medium-high rate and level of growth for a fairly long time to come. We are confident because the Chinese economy has big potential, strong resilience, and ample space for readjustment. As long as we stay committed to deepen reform and strengthen the twin engines for economic growth, we will build up stronger and longer lasting force for development, and through hard efforts, bring about a new round of stable and enduring growth for the Chinese economy. Streamlining administration and scaling back administrative power is also essential for building a new system for an open economy. With profound adjustment in the global economic landscape and changing conditions of resource and production factors, our traditional competitive strengths are waning. Weak demand in the international market means heavy pressure for our imports and exports to grow. Therefore, we must speed up the building of an open economy and develop a network of high-standard free trade zones open to all other countries and an international and law-based business environment. We must explore the use of a management model based on pre-establishment national treatment and a negative list, foster and expand new competitive strengths in international cooperation. To achieve these, it is essential for the government to streamline administration and scale back administrative power, lift or exercise regulation where necessary and provide better services. I visited the four free trade zones, including the one in Shanghai. A major feature of them is streamlined administration and devolved administrative power that enable companies to get registered and investment projects to get started more quickly. To improve governance capacity, the government needs to deepen such reform as streamlining administration and scaling back administrative power. The government should withdraw from certain areas as needed so as to do a better job where its role is duly required, just as "cutting off extra branches and leaves helps to make the trunk stronger", so to speak. Only when the government further delegates power where necessary, focuses on where regulation is needed, and provides adequate services, can it be possible for us to come up with new practices in governance, and better meet people's will, promote development and facilitate social harmony.
在新的歷史時期，深化簡政放權等改革，不是權宜之計，而是既利當前又惠長遠，具有多方面的重大意義和作用。實現“雙中高”目標，需要靠深化簡政放權等改革培育新動能。當前，世界經濟復蘇進程艱難曲折、復雜多變。我國經濟發展進入新常態，“三期疊加”矛盾逐步凸顯，到了爬坡過坎關鍵時期。今年一季度經濟增長也面臨很多困難。但我們從去年下半年以來采取的定向調控措施逐步見效，一定程度上對沖了經濟下行壓力。當前經濟運行總體平穩，一些方面出現向好的趨勢，比如調查失業率4月份有所降低，工業也在回升。但有一些方面壓力還比較大，比如投資還在繼續下行。我們必須采取更有力的措施，把向好的趨勢鞏固住，把下行的壓力頂住。這從根本上講還要靠簡政放權、放管結合、優化服務。我們有信心有能力使經濟運行保持在合理區間，完成今年主要目標任務，并在較長時期內保持經濟中高速增長、邁向中高端水平。我們這個底氣來自于我國經濟發展的巨大潛力、韌性和回旋余地。只要我們堅定不移地深化改革，打造好“雙引擎”，就能進一步形成更為強勁而持久的發展動力，促進中國新一輪經濟“破繭成蝶”、行穩致遠。構建開放型經濟新體制，需要靠深化簡政放權等改革提供支撐。隨著國際經貿格局深刻調整和我國資源要素條件變化，我們傳統的競爭優勢在弱化。當前國際市場低迷，我國進出口增長壓力很大。因此，我們必須加快構建開放型經濟新體制，建設面向全球的高標準自貿區網絡和國際化、法治化營商環境，探索實行準入前國民待遇和負面清單管理模式，培育和擴大國際合作競爭新優勢。這對政府工作的核心要求，就是簡政放權、放管結合、優化服務。我到上海等四個自貿區都去看過，他們最主要的措施就是簡政放權，讓企業能夠在自貿區內迅速登記，投資項目能較快落地。提高政府治理能力，需要靠深化簡政放權等改革“修枝壯干”。政府有所不為方能更好有所為。只有進一步把該放的權放掉、把不該管的事交出，集中力量把該管的事管好、該服務的服務到位，才能有效推進政府的治理創新，更好地遂民意、促發展、利和諧。

To encourage all people to start their own business and make innovation, we need to streamline administration and scale back administrative power, reform that will remove obstacles and set a proper stage. History is created by the people, and a country's prosperity and progress must be driven by its people's creativity. By encouraging our people to become entrepreneurs and innovators, we hope to leverage their role as the masters of the country and their unlimited creativity so that our people can all participate in modernization and share in the benefits of reform and the fruits of development.
特別是推進大眾創業、萬眾創新，需要靠深化簡政放權等改革清障搭臺。歷史是人民創造的，國家的繁榮進步來自于人民創造力的發揮。我們黨的群眾路線是一切為了群眾、一切依靠群眾。我們提出推進“雙創”，就是著眼于尊重人民群眾的主體地位，充分發揮人民群眾的無限創造力，讓他們平等參與現代化進程、共同分享改革紅利和發展成果。

- Encouraging start-ups and innovation will boost development, increase people's wealth, promote social equity and strengthen the country. It is therefore an integral part in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. To encourage start-ups is conducive to creating more jobs, increasing people's income and boosting domestic demand. At the same time, it enables people to live a more fulfilling life. It is also the surest way to realize common prosperity for our people. Redistribution alone is not enough to narrow the income gap. Primary distribution should be the main approach to enable more people to get rich. Reality on the ground already shows that where there is a more enabling business environment and a larger number of start-ups, the local economy will be more vibrant, income higher and wealth gap smaller. We now encourage the general public to make innovation. This is intended to foster a culture of innovation in our society. In such a society, we will have more fertile soil for innovation, a stronger push for innovation and a greater impact from innovation. To encourage start-ups and innovation by the public will enhance not only the "hard power" of the national economy but also the soft power of the country. It serves the fundamental interests of the public and meets the needs of each and every worker. A country where start-ups and innovation thrive must be one of promise, energy and progress.
——推進“雙創”，既是發展的動力之源，也是富民之道、公平之計、強國之策，是建設中國特色社會主義題中應有之義。讓群眾起來搞創業、以創業帶動就業，可以不斷增加收入、擴大內需，還能使其在創造財富過程中實現精神追求和人生價值。這也是逐步實現共同富裕的必由之路，因為縮小收入分配差距，僅靠“二次分配”是不夠的，主要得靠“一次分配”讓更多的人富起來。實踐證明，哪個地方創業的環境好、創業的人數多，哪個地方的經濟就充滿活力、居民收入就高、貧富差距也就小。我們倡導萬眾創新，形成全社會的創新文化，這樣創新的土壤就更為深厚，創新的動力就更為強勁，創新的效應也更為巨大。推進“雙創”，不僅有利于增強國家經濟“硬實力”，而且有利于提升國家“軟實力”。“雙創”著眼于實現廣大人民群眾的根本利益，有效契合了每個勞動者的內在需求。一個創業創新蔚然成風的國家，必然是昂揚向上、充滿活力和希望的。

-Encouraging start-ups and innovation is not just relevant for individuals and newly established companies. In fact, well-established companies, including the bigger ones, should also keep their vitality and competitiveness through entrepreneurship and innovation. Just have a look at those successful companies with staying power. With no exception, they are the ones who keep up with the times and constantly innovate and forge ahead. Otherwise, they would have closed down a long time ago. In recent years some big companies have recognized the trend of Internet development and personalized consumption, and remade their management model. They have reshaped the traditional hierarchical management model into new platforms for their employees to pursue entrepreneurship and innovation. Such platforms are also open to the society. Employees can apply the novel ideas nurtured on such platforms in their own work or with a third party. As such, the company has thus become a big hub of resources for innovation. It can support more small- and medium-sized companies, boasts stronger capacity for innovation and can deliver more diverse products. There is a great deal that businesses can do in tapping their entrepreneurship and innovation.
——推進“雙創”，不僅限于個人和新生企業，現有企業包括大企業也要通過不斷創業創新來保持活力和競爭力。看看那些長盛不衰的企業，哪一個不是與時俱進、經歷過多次創業創新的？否則，它的事業早就可能走到盡頭了。近年來，有些大企業積極順應互聯網發展和消費個性化趨勢，對管理模式進行再造，將傳統的層級管控組織重塑為新型創業創新平臺，讓員工成為創客，并將平臺向外部開放，創客在這個平臺上孕育產生的“奇思妙想”，既可以自己用，也可以與外邊合作開發，使企業變成一個大的創新資源聚集之地。這樣，帶動的配套中小企業更多了，創新能力更強了，產品更豐富了。企業推進創業創新是大有可為的。-

- We have unique strength in encouraging start-ups and innovation. China has over 1.3 billion people, including a 900-million-strong workforce. The average education level of our working-age population is 10 years, higher than the world average. The education level of our newly added workforce has reached 13 years, approaching the average of medium developed countries. There is huge untapped potential for human resources to be turned into human capital. Meanwhile, we also have over 70 million market entities, including over 18 million companies. Our people and market entities have strong desire for entrepreneurship and innovation, but many have been held back by both tangible and invisible restrictions. We therefore must deepen reform to streamline administration and scale back administrative power. This will get rid of the obstacles and enable our people and market entities to travel light and grow stronger. We have mapped out reform plans for the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone, which has attracted a large number of domestic entrepreneurs, financial companies, and intermediaries, as well as foreign companies. Speedy progress is also being made in institutional reform in the free trade zones in Guangdong, Tianjin and Fujian. Experience gathered in these free trade zones must be timely applied to the rest of the country so that China, with an improved business environment, stands out as the most appealing destination for foreign investment.
——推進“雙創”，我們有得天獨厚的條件。我國有13億多人口、9億勞動力，目前勞動年齡人口平均受教育年限達到10年、高于世界平均水平，新增勞動力達到13年、接近中等發達國家平均水平，人力資源轉化為人力資本的潛力巨大。同時，我們還有7000多萬市場主體，其中有1800多萬家企業。廣大人民群眾和市場主體擁有強烈的創業創新愿望，但仍有不少有形無形的枷鎖束縛著他們的手腳。必須通過深化簡政放權等改革，破枷清障、鋪路搭橋，使他們輕裝前進、不斷發展壯大。我們已就深化上海自貿區改革進行了部署，吸引了大批國內創業者以及金融企業和中介機構，不少外商也跟進了。廣東、天津、福建三個自貿區的體制機制創新也在加快推進。這些自貿區探索的經驗要及時復制推廣，使我國擁有更好的營商環境，是外資的最佳選擇地。

The progress achieved in the past two years fully testifies to the effect of deepening reform through streamlining administration and delegating government power. In fact, we have learnt about the importance of such reform from the course of China's history, especially from the success of the reform and opening-up program over the past 37 years. The several-thousand-year-long Chinese civilization provides useful references. In this year's Report on the Work of the Government, I quoted an old Chinese saying that "good governance should be simple in its exercise" and stated that "power should not be used arbitrarily". It was echoed by the deputies to the National People's Congress. My inspiration comes from the ancient Book of Rites, which teaches us that "good governance, when exercised, brings the world together as one community (See Chapter: the Conveyance of Rituals)." And according to the Analects of Confucius, one should "hold the people in reverence and be simple in the measures he takes" when governing the people (see Chapter: Yong Ye). In other words, the job of the government is to keep the people's interests at heart and hold itself accountable to the people at all times while minimizing its intervention and interference in people's lives. The book then goes on to say that "it would be rather unacceptable to be simple both in the way that the government relates to the people and in the measures that it takes." Put simply, if the government exercises power by treating the people as nothing more than just simple subjects, it would be irresponsible and even disrespectful of moral standards. Historically, the prosperity of a dynasty usually came from good simple governance, from freeing the people of levies and taxes to allow them to rest and recover, whereas the decline or demise of a dynasty was usually brought by doing just the opposite, as a bad government, as an old Chinese saying goes, "is more dreadful than a wild tiger." The reform and opening-up process, which began following the Third Plenum of the 11th CPC Central Committee, has led China to remarkable progress. This is one recent example of how good governance, simple in exercise, has achieved the purpose of lifting restrictions and unleashing people's ingenuity by way of reform and opening-up. For instance, rural land reform was conducted in the 1980s with the introduction of the household contract responsibility system, which gave farmers full autonomy in the operation of their land and quickly improved their livelihood. That being said, the delegation of power does not mean zero regulation, but rather better service on the basis of better regulation. China's history over the past several thousand years as well as its 37 years of reform and opening-up shows that over-regulation stifles progress. Only by removing restrictions could we spark creativity, unleash and expand productivity and steadily raise people's living standards. To sum up, the key to good governance is respect for the people and the principle of simplicity in the exercise of government power.
深化簡政放權等改革不僅是基于兩年多來的有效實踐，而且是基于歷史的啟示，特別是我國37年來改革開放內在成功邏輯的啟示。中華民族幾千年文明史中有很多優秀文化，值得我們借鑒。我在政府工作報告里講“大道至簡，有權不可任性”，代表們是贊成的。《禮記》“禮運篇”說，“大道之行也，天下為公”。“大道至簡”中的“簡”字是什么意思呢？《論語》“雍也篇”中講，要“居敬行簡”，可解釋為心里牽掛著百姓，做事有敬畏，但行為是“簡”的，不擾民、不煩民，這是政府應該做的。但同時又講，不能“居簡行簡”，可以解釋說，如果心里沒有百姓，已經很“簡”了，再去“行簡”，那就太“簡”、不負責任、沒有法度了。縱觀中國歷史，凡盛世往往都用“居敬行簡”的辦法，輕徭薄賦、讓百姓休養生息。而那些衰亡的王朝都是煩民擾民多，所謂苛政猛于虎。黨的十一屆三中全會以來，我國之所以取得舉世矚目的偉大成就，走的是改革開放之路，“大道至簡”與此是相契合的。其核心內容是放開搞活，有力激發蘊藏在人民群眾之中的創造活力。拿當年農村改革來說，地還是那些地，人還是那些人，就是因為實行家庭承包制，給農民生產經營自主權，很快就解決了溫飽問題。當然放權不是不管，而是既管也服務。幾千年的中國歷史和37年的改革開放實踐證明，管多就會管死，只有放開才能搞活，從而解放和發展社會生產力，使人民生活水平不斷提高，政府施政的要義在于以敬民之心行簡政之道。

Our overall goal of deepening administrative reform and transforming government functions is to streamline administration and delegate power, combine power delegation with effective oversight, and improve service all in a coordinated way. Such a three-pronged approach will encourage mass entrepreneurship and innovation and mobilize the initiative at the central and local levels. It will help promote sustained and healthy economic and social development, cultivate a law-based, innovative, clean and service-oriented government at a faster pace to meet the requirement of the socialist market economy and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and eventually build up modern governance capacity. In this process, it is important to learn from the wisdom and fine traditions of our ancestors, such as the belief that "good governance should be simple in exercise", and apply it in the modern-day context to let labor, knowledge, technology, managerial expertise and capital play their full part in invigorating the market, open up all sources of social wealth and give all members of the society an equal opportunity to discover and realize their full potential. By so doing, we will be able to build new engines of growth, create fresh prospects for social progress, unity and harmony and ensure that our nation will always be a place full of vitality and dynamism.
當前和今后一個時期，深化行政體制改革、轉變政府職能總的要求是：簡政放權、放管結合、優化服務協同推進，即“放、管、服”三管齊下，推動大眾創業、萬眾創新，充分發揮中央和地方兩個積極性，促進經濟社會持續健康發展，加快建設與社會主義市場經濟體制和中國特色社會主義事業發展相適應的法治政府、創新政府、廉潔政府和服務型政府，逐步實現政府治理能力現代化。為此，我們要善于借鑒汲取“大道至簡”等優秀文化傳統，并結合新的時代要求予以發揚光大，放手讓一切勞動、知識、技術、管理、資本的活力競相迸發，讓一切創造社會財富的源泉充分涌流，讓所有社會成員各得其所、各展其能、機會公平，打造經濟發展新引擎，開辟社會進步新天地，營造團結和諧新氣象，使我們的國家始終充滿生機與活力。