On March 13, the State Council issued the "Decision on Cancelling and Adjusting a Batch of Administrative Approval Items and Other Matters," abolishing and delegating 94 administrative approval items. Among these, 13 previously administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the State Oceanic Administration have been abolished.

According to the “Catalog of Administrative Approval Items Whose Management Levels Are to Be Canceled or Delegated by the State Council,” nine administrative approval items in the field of land and resources have been canceled, namely: approval for the extension of geological data submission; approval of land survey implementation plans; approval for the development and utilization of mineral resources in mineral reserve areas; review of geological data within the protection period accessed by relevant departments of people's governments at or above the county level; examination and approval of provincial (autonomous region, municipality) mine geological environmental protection plans; approval of the list of key protected paleontological fossil sites; approval for the construction of science and technology platforms by the Ministry of Natural Resources; approval for the establishment of integrated exploration zones; and approval for adjusting the classification of mineral exploration risks. Four administrative approval items in the field of marine resources have also been canceled, namely: approval of marine coastal zone remediation and restoration projects (marine area category); registration and approval of buildings and facilities for island-use projects approved by the State Council; approval of implementation plans for island remediation and restoration projects; and acceptance inspection of island remediation and restoration projects.

The State Council has requested that all regions and departments continue to unswervingly advance the reform of the administrative approval system, further intensify efforts to streamline administration and delegate power, improve the mechanisms for oversight and checks and balances, strengthen supervision over the exercise of administrative approval powers, and continuously enhance the scientific and standardized level of government governance.