At 3 p.m. on March 5, the Second Session of the 12th National People's Congress held its first press conference at the Media Center in Beijing. Xu Shaoshi, Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, answered questions from Chinese and foreign journalists on issues related to economic and social development and macroeconomic regulation.

　　457.6 Billion Yuan Aimed at "Achieving Great Results with Small Inputs"

　　On the morning of the same day, Premier Li Keqiang pointed out in the 2014 Government Work Report that this year's central budget investment is planned to increase to 457.6 billion yuan, focusing on affordable housing projects, agriculture, major water conservancy, railways in the central and western regions, energy conservation and environmental protection, and social undertakings, so as to give full play to the leveraging role of government investment in "achieving great results with small inputs."

　　When a journalist asked "this year's central budget investment has increased, how will the National Development and Reform Commission arrange this money," Xu Shaoshi explained that this year, despite tight fiscal conditions, central budget investment increased by another 20 billion yuan to reach 457.6 billion yuan. This money is mainly used to adjust the structure and shore up weak links, and must be spent where it is most needed, because compared with total fixed asset investment across society, this money is not large, only about 1%.

　　100 Billion Yuan "Targeted" at Basic Projects

　　As for where the people's hard-earned money will go, Xu Shaoshi said: "We have made substantial adjustments to the allocation method of central budget investment, cutting general competitive special items by 50% and investment by nearly 40%. Through the adjustment, we have concentrated 100 billion yuan to increase support for some basic, overall and strategic projects, mainly for shantytown renovation, affordable housing and supporting infrastructure construction, for strengthening work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers, for the development of social undertakings and social governance, for major infrastructure construction, energy conservation, environmental protection and ecological development, for the development of border areas and ethnic minority regions, and for independent innovation and structural adjustment."

　　According to the reporter's understanding, this year China will intensify affordable housing construction, with more than 7 million units newly started, including more than 4.7 million units of various types of shantytown housing.

　　In addition, Premier Li Keqiang also pointed out in the Government Work Report that this year China will promote ecological protection and development and implement major ecological projects such as soil and water conservation. We will implement the functional zoning system and explore the establishment of cross-regional and cross-basin ecological compensation mechanisms. We will accelerate the development and application of energy-saving and environmental protection technologies and products and build the energy-saving and environmental protection industry.

　　Reform the Investment and Approval System

　　to Avoid "Running to Ministries for Money"

　　As the investment management department, how should the National Development and Reform Commission avoid the phenomenon of "running to ministries for money" and ensure that the people's hard-earned money is well managed and well used?

　　In response, Xu Shaoshi said that to make good use of central budget investment, it is necessary to deepen the reform of the investment and approval system. According to the requirements of the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission has canceled and delegated 44 administrative approval items, and revised the government-approved investment project catalog. Projects requiring approval at the central government level have been reduced by 60%, and 31 investment subsidy and interest discount projects that are numerous, wide-ranging and small in individual amount have been delegated to local authorities.

　　Regarding everyone's concern about "whether there will be chaos after delegation," he emphasized: "We believe that what should be delegated must be delegated and delegated in place, and what should be managed must be managed well and managed in place, combining delegation with management. When delegating, powers and responsibilities should be delegated simultaneously. In addition, regulation and supervision should also be strengthened simultaneously."

　　Xu Shaoshi introduced four measures taken by the National Development and Reform Commission to solve this problem: First, standardize approval, verification and filing, publish the list of powers, simplify procedures, optimize processes, handle matters online, and complete them within a time limit, turning approval into a service. Second, establish a coordinated management mechanism with relevant departments that links vertical and horizontal levels, because approving a major project often involves departments responsible for land, environmental protection, loans, construction and others. Third, strengthen the binding force of planning. Many major projects are no longer approved, but plans still need to be approved, so the binding force of plans on project construction should be strengthened. Fourth, strengthen information technology development, and strive to achieve online approval and online supervision through online handling and interconnection.