Government Organizations
Section Contents
Chinese Government
Ministries
Ministries & Commissions Under the State Council
State Council Special Organizations
State Council Administrative Offices
State Council Institutions
Administrations & Bureaus under Ministries & Commissions
(Please note: we are working on providing a form of segmentation that will allow you to quickly access any particular agency other than having to use search. Please be patient. It's a big task!)
· Ministries
The National People’s Congress (NPC)
The National People's Congress (NPC) of the People's Republic of China is the highest organization of state power. Its Standing Committee is the highest, and a permanent committee of the NPC. Terms of office are five years and together they are empowered with the rights of legislation, decision, supervision, election and removal.
The Presidency of the People’s Republic of China
The State presidency is an independent State apparatus and a component part of China's State organization which operates as collective leadership. The president is subordinate to the NPC.
To date, six men have held the office of the president of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Li Xiannian, Yang Shangkun, Jiang Zemin, and the current president, Hu Jintao.
The State Council
The State Council is the highest executive and administrative organization of State power. The State Council is composed of a premier, vice-premiers, State councilors, ministers in charge of ministries and commissions, the auditor-general and the secretary-general.
The Central Military Commission
The Central Military Commission commands the entire armed forces in the country. Led by a chairman and consisting of vice chairmen and members, the Commission is elected for a term of five years and can stand for reelection.
The Supreme People’s Court
The Supreme People's Court exercises its right of trial independently and supervises trial practices of local and special people's courts at various levels.
The Supreme People’s Procuratorate
The people's procuratorates provide legal supervision forf the state. The prosecution system consists of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, local and special people's procuratorates.
The Ministry of Agriculture is is charged with the responsibility for agriculture and environmental issues relating to agriculture, fishery, consumer affairs, animal husbandry, horticulture, animal welfare, foodstuffs, hunting and game management, as well as higher education and research in the field of agricultural sciences.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) creates guidelines, policies, laws and regulations concerning civil affairs in China.
The Ministry of Commerce, formerly the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation, is responsible for fostering closer partnership between the economies of the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau with the economy of the rest of the PRC.
Ministry of Culture www.mcprc.gov.cn (Chinese language only site)
This ministry handles cultural policy and activities in the country, including managing national museums and monuments; promoting and protecting the arts (visual, folk, theatrical, musical, dance, architectural, literary, television and cinematographic); and managing the national archives and regional culture centers.
The Ministry of Education is responsible for China’s educational undertakings and language work.
Ministry of Environmental Protection www.mep.gov.cn (Chinese language only site)
The Ministry of Environmental Protection is a cabinet-level ministry in the executive branch of the Chinese Government. It is charged with protecting China's air, water, and land from pollution and contamination by Implementing and enforcing environmental policies, laws and regulations. It also funds and organizes research and development, plus serves as China's nuclear safety agency.
This agency administers macroeconomic policies and the national annual budget. It also handles fiscal policy, economic regulations, government expenditure and records and publishes annual data such as growth rates, debt and borrowing and other indicators regarding the Chinese economy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), located in Beijing, is responsible for foreign relations between China and other countries in the world.
The Ministry of Health plays the role of providing information, raising health awareness and education, ensuring the accessibility of health services, and monitoring the quality of health services provided to citizens and visitors. It also is involved in the control of illness and disease, coordinating the utilization of resources and expertise where necessary and cooperating with other health ministries and departments, including those of the special administrative regions, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction www.cin.gov.cn ( Chinese language only site)
The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction regulates infrastructure construction activities in the country.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security is a newly created ministry, responsible for employment, labor and community services. It is under the State Council, and the State Bureau of Civil Servants reports to it.
The Ministry of Information Industry is responsible for regulation and development of the postal service, Internet, wireless, broadcasting, communications, production of electronic and information goods, the software industry and the promotion of the national knowledge economy. The MII is responsible for censoring the internet in the PRC.
The state council announced during the 2008 National People's Congress that the Ministry of Industry and Information will supersede the Ministry of Information Industry. The new ministry will also include the former Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, the State Council Information Office and the State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau.
The Ministry of Justice is responsible for justice administration, nationwide through guidelines, policies, laws and regulations; plans and annual priorities; and supervising the execution of criminal punishment and reform of offenders; and directing prison management.
This Ministry is responsible for the planning, administration, protection and rational utilization of such natural resources as land, mineral and marine resources.
Ministry of National Defense (MND)(NO WEBSITE)
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) is responsible for the development of China’s armed forces, from recruitment to training, scientific military research and pay. However, in reality these responsibilities are carried out by the four General Headquarters of the PLA, which are under the control of the Central Military Commission (CMC).
Ministry of Public Security (MPS)www.mps.gov.cn/ (Chinese language only site)
The Ministry of Public Security (MPS), headed by the Minister of Public Security, is the principal police authority in the mainland of the People's Republic of China and the agency that is responsible for most of the day-to-day police work in mainland China.
The MPS is the main domestic security agency in the People's Republic of China. It controls and administers the People's Armed Police. Hong Kong and Macau have their own security bureaus/agencies and police forces.
Ministry of Railways www.china-mor.gov.cn (Chinese language only site)
This executive agency is responsible for passenger services, regulation of the rail industry, and development of the rail network and rail infrastructure. It also is in charge of the operations of China Railways which manages the railway bureaus and companies in the provinces.
The Ministry of Science and Technology coordinates all science and technology activities in the country. It sets forth the macro strategies for science and technology development, as well as guidelines, policies and regulations to promote economic and social development; conducts research, promotes and improves the national science and technology innovation capacity.
Ministry of State Security(No Website)
The Ministry of State Security (MSS) is probably the Chinese government's largest and most active foreign intelligence agency, though it is also involved in domestic security matters such as collecting domestic intelligence and monitoring political dissidents.
The Ministry of Supervision is responsible for maintaining an efficient, disciplined, and honest government, and educating public servants about their duty and discipline.
Ministry of Transport www.moc.gov.cn (Chinese language only site)
The Ministry of Transport is responsible for road and water transportation regulations. However, it is not in charge of conventional railway or air transportation, which are administrated by the Ministries of Railways and Civil Aviation Administration, respectively.
The main responsibilities of MWR are formulation of water-related policies, development strategies and medium and long-term development plans, including water conservation and demand management policies; drafting and implementation of enabling legislation and design of water-related regulatory frameworks; and implementation of integrated management of water resources, including atmospheric water, surface water, groundwater, etc.
Government audit institutions in China are comprehensive bodies in charge of controlling public finance and monitoring the economy. As the supreme audit institution of China, the CNAO, directly under the leadership of the Premier, organizes and administers audit work of the whole country and reports its work to the State Council. Local audit institutions, under the dual leadership of the administrative heads of their corresponding level governments and the audit institutions at their next higher levels organize and manage audit work within their jurisdiction.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is a macroeconomic management agency under the State Council, which studies and formulates policies for economic and social development, maintains a balance of economic aggregates and guides the overall economic system.
The missions of this commission are to propose guidelines and policies for the national family planning programs; draft laws and regulations related to population and family planning; and assist related departments to formulate social and economic policies.
The PBC, as the central bank for China, formulates and implements monetary policy, prevents and resolves financial risks, and safeguards financial stability. It performs the following major functions: issuing and enforcing relevant orders and regulations; formulating and implementing monetary policy; issuing Renminbi and administering its circulation; regulating inter-bank lending and bond markets; administering foreign exchange; regulating the gold market; holding and managing official foreign exchange and gold reserves; managing the State treasury; maintaining normal operation of the payment and settlement system; guiding and organizing anti-money laundering work in the financial sector and monitoring relevant fund flows; compiling and conducting financial statistics, surveys, analysis and forecasts; participating in international financial activities; and performing other functions specified by the State Council.
The State Ethnic Affairs Commissionis responsible for relations between the Central Government and the minority(non-Han) Chinese citizens of China, and the improvement of their economy, politics, education, civilization, science and technology, etc.
The major functions of this office include organizing research and investigations on the main work of the Communist Party of China and the government; playing a role in government; maintaining intimate contact with all sectors of society and reflecting the social situation and public opinion; participating in patriotic united front work; and guiding the work of counselors’ offices of local governments.
The essential tasks of this agency are Customs control, revenue collection, management of bond operations for processing trade, fighting smuggling, audit-based control and risk management, port management and foreign trade statistics compilation.
GAPP is responsible for supervision and administration of periodical publication activities countrywide, volume control, distribution, quality assessment and the mechanism for withdrawal of periodical publications.
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) http://english.aqsiq.gov.cn
National quality, metrology, entry exit commodity inspection, entry-exit health quarantine, entry-exit animal and plant quarantine, import-export food safety, certification and accreditation, standardization and administrative law-enforcement are the charges of this agency.
The GAS supervises the All-China Sports Federation and the Chinese Olympic Committee.
Government Offices Administration l www.ggj.gov.cn/ (Chinese language only site)
The GOA is mainly responsible for managing government offices expenditures, financial affairs, official vehicles, state-owned assets and real estate, implementing housing reform, managing the public housing accumulation fund, and coordinating air defense, logistics reform and logistics cadre training.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), is in charge of statistics and economic accounting in China.
The CNTA is responsible for developing, promoting and regulating the China tourism industry.
This agency is in charge of market supervision/regulation and related law enforcement through administrative means.
State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) www.chinasarft.gov.cn (Chinese language only site)
SARFT directly controls state-owned enterprises at the national level, such as China Central Television, China National Radio, as well as other movie and television studios and other non-business organizations. It is also responsible for censoring any materials that might be objective to Chinese government or cultural standards.
The State Administration for Religious Affairs is a functional department under the State Council in charge of religious affairs and issues.
The State Administration of Taxation mandates include: drafting and formulating detailed implementing tax laws and regulations; measuring the overall tax burden; putting forward suggestions on how to use tax for regulation purposes; and providing guidance for local tax collection and administration.
This agency supervises and regulates work safety, administers Coal Mine Safety and is the working body of the Office of the State Council Work Safety Commission
The State Forestry Administration has 11 departments: General Office, Tree-Planting & Afforestation, Forest Resources Management, Wildlife Conservation, Forest Police (Forest Fire Management Office), Forest Policy & Legislation, Development, Planning & Finance, Science & Technology, International Cooperation, Human Resources & Education and Party Membership Committee.
The State Intellectual Property Office incorporates the Chinese Patent Office to coordinate and harmonize national and international affairs in IP field; and to instruct local governmental agencies in administrative enforcement of the patent law.
The State Council empowers the SASAC to act as an investor on behalf of the state. The supervision and administration scope of the SASAC are the state-owned assets of the enterprises directly subordinate to the Central Government (except for the financial institutions).
This office is a conduit between the mainland and its communities and Hong Kong and Macao. It conducts researches and planning; promotes cooperation and exchange in the fields of economics, science, technology, education, culture, etc.; provides travel documentation for public servants; manages services to mainland companies located in HK and Macao; and promotes the principles and policies of the central government concerning HK and Macao.
The China Internet Information Center offers broad access to up-to-date news about China, with searchable texts of government position papers and a wealth of basic information about Chinese history, politics, economics and culture. The authorized government portal site to China, www.china.org.cn is published under the auspices of the State Council Information Office and the China International Publishing Group in Beijing.
The Legislative Affairs Office assists in handling legislative affairs and other legal affairs.
This office assists the Premier in handling overseas Chinese affairs.
This office is responsible for comprehensive policy research and policy making consultation.
This website releases important policies and publishes information on political affairs related to Taiwan. It also provides information on trade, education and medical treatment, etc. for Taiwan compatriots in the mainland.
The Chinese Academy of Engineering is a national and independent organization composed of elected members from the engineering and technological sciences communities. Its missions are to conduct strategic studies, provide consulting services on key issues in engineering and technological sciences, and to promote engineering and technological sciences in China.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences is a leading academic institution and comprehensive research and development center in natural science, technological science and high-tech innovation. CAS conducts research in basic and technological sciences; undertakes nationwide surveys on natural resources and the ecological environment; provides scientific data and advice for governmental decision-making, and promotes China's high-tech enterprises by its active involvement in these areas.
The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is the highest academic research organization in the fields of philosophy and social sciences, as well as a national center for studies of the People’s Republic of China.
The CBRCformulates supervisory rules and regulations governing banking institutions; conducts on-site examination and off-site surveillance of banking institutions; takes regulatory enforcement actions; tests senior managerial bank personnel; compilaes and publishes statistics and reports of the overall banking industry; and administrates the supervisory boards of the major State-owned banking institutions.
The China Earthquake Administration helps protect against and mitigate earthquake disasters.
The China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) is authorized to conduct administration, supervision and regulation of the Chinese insurance market, and to ensure operational stability of the insurance industry.
The China Meteorological Administration (is responsible for organizational and operational management of the national meteorological services as a whole.
The CSRC is the main security (finance) regulator of the PRC.Its functions are similar to that of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States.
The DRC is a comprehensive policy research and consulting institution.
Formed in August, 2000, the NSSF serves as a strategic reserve fund accumulated by the central government to support future social security expenditures.
The NSFC is a public institution which manages a fund to support basic research, uphold free exploration, and identify and cultivate scientific and technological talent and advances.
National School of Administration (CNSA) www.nsa.gov.cn/ (Chinese language only site)
CNSA is a state-of-the-art training center for middle- and senior-level civil servants, senior executives and policy research fellows. It provides policy consultancy to government officials and develops theoretical research in the field of public management.
The State Electricity Regulatory Commission performs administrative and regulatory duties with regard to the national electric power sector.
Xinhuanet releases important news about China and the world around the clock. Xinhuanet has three domain names: xinhuanet.com, xinhua.org and news.cn. Its English version has a domain name of its own: chinaview.cn. Xinhuanet provides news services in six languages -- Chinese, English, Spanish, French, Russian and Arabic.
State Bureau for Letters and Calls www.gjxfj.gov.cn (Chinese language only site)
This bureau handles letters and visits from people both in China and abroad to report important comments, suggestions and problems expressed in letters and visits to the central authorities; to comprehensively analyze information in letters and visits, carry out investigations and research, and make principle and policy suggestions.
The State Administration of Grain is responsible for macro-regulation of national grain distribution, providing guidelines for the development of grain industry and administrating national grain reserves.
The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration and China National Tobacco Corporation are responsible for centralized management of staff, finance, properties, products, supply, distribution, and domestic and foreign trade of the country’s tobacco industry.
As the administrative department in charge of the national introduction of foreign intellectual resources, SAFEA is responsible for oversight of experts from abroad, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, in the fields of economy, technology, management, education, science, culture, healthcare, including experts working in foreign invested ventures, those working under import contracts and key construction projects. It is also in charge of sending Chinese technical and managerial professionals from government departments and enterprises for overseas training.
The State Oceanic Administration, part of the Ministry of Land and Resources, manages sea area uses and marine environmental protection, safeguardes national maritime rights and interests, and conducts marine research.
This bureau is in charge of all surveying and mapping work in China.
The State Post Bureau is a government agency and public utility enterprise which functions similarly to the U.S. Postal service.
State Administration of Cultural Relics www.sach.gov.cn/ (Chinese language only site)
This agency is responsible for the protection of China’s cultural relics.
State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM) www.satcm.gov.cn/ (Chinese language only site)
Operating under the Ministry of Health this agency’s mission is to enhance scientific research and education, as well as promote integration of Chinese and Western Medicine and develop international cooperation.
The Foreign Exchange agency manages China’s balance of payments (BOP) statistical system, provides policy proposals to achieve an equilibrium in the BOP position, determines renminbi conversion standards, drafts rules and regulations governing foreign exchange market activities, oversees market conduct and operations, and analyzes and forecasts foreign exchange supply/demand positions.
Coal Mine Safety (SACMS) is under the jurisdiction of the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS). Its main responsibility is to ensure coal mine safety, such as dealing with gas problems in coal mines.
State Archives Administration (SAAC) www.saac.gov.cn/ (Chinese language only site)
The national archives administration is responsible for coordinating and unifying all systems for archival work throughout the country.
National Administration for the Protection of State Secrets (No website)
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