Renaming, official unveiling, and the formation of leadership teams—work related to what has been dubbed by outside observers as China’s largest institutional reform in recent years—is now underway in full swing. On March 31, the State Council’s meeting on advancing institutional reform was held in Beijing. Han Zheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Han Zheng emphasized:

　　Completion of the official unveiling by mid-April: The unveiling of the newly established departments shall be completed on the basis of ensuring that centralized office conditions are in place and that members of the leading team and comprehensive departments and bureaus are able to work from a centralized location.

　　Set staffing levels by the end of June: Expedite the formulation of the “Three Determinations” regulations (determining functions, determining organizational structure, and determining staffing levels). Strictly review and approve the number of internal institutions within newly established departments. Staffing levels shall be determined in accordance with the principle of “staffing follows tasks, and personnel follow staffing.” The regulations shall be issued and implemented by the end of June.

　　Get off to a good start and lay a solid foundation to ensure the successful completion of this year’s key economic and social development goals and tasks. The institutional reform of central and state organs must be fully implemented by the end of 2018.

　　As the curtain rises on reform, several newly established departments and agencies are gradually coming into public view. Currently, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the National Health Commission, and the National Immigration Administration—these newly formed institutions—have officially been unveiled. What do they actually look like? Let’s take a close look at their true faces!

　　Ministry of Natural Resources

　　The Ministry of Natural Resources, the State Oceanic Administration, and the National Administration of Surveying, Mapping, and Geoinformation will no longer be retained.

　　On April 10, the Ministry of Natural Resources was officially established.

　　Responsibilities: Integrate the responsibilities of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the organizational and planning responsibilities for functional zone planning previously held by the National Development and Reform Commission, the urban and rural planning management responsibilities previously held by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the responsibilities for water resource surveys and rights confirmation and registration previously held by the Ministry of Water Resources, the responsibilities for grassland resource surveys and rights confirmation and registration previously held by the Ministry of Agriculture, the responsibilities for surveys and rights confirmation and registration of forest, wetland, and other resources previously held by the State Forestry Administration, the responsibilities previously held by the State Oceanic Administration, and the responsibilities previously held by the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping and Geoinformation. Establish the Ministry of Natural Resources as a constituent department of the State Council. The Ministry of Natural Resources will continue to maintain the nameplate of the State Oceanic Administration externally.

　　Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs

　　The Ministry of Agriculture will no longer be retained.

　　On April 3, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China was officially inaugurated. Hu Chunhua, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the inauguration ceremony.

　　Responsibilities: Integrate the responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as those related to agricultural investment projects under the National Development and Reform Commission, comprehensive agricultural development projects under the Ministry of Finance, farmland improvement projects under the Ministry of Natural Resources, and agricultural water conservancy construction projects under the Ministry of Water Resources, to establish the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs as a constituent department of the State Council. Transfer the responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture concerning the inspection and supervision of fishing vessels to the Ministry of Transport.

　　Ministry of Culture and Tourism

　　The Ministry of Culture and the National Tourism Administration will no longer be retained.

　　On April 8, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China was officially unveiled in Beijing. Huang Kunming, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the unveiling ceremony and chaired a symposium.

　　Responsibility: Integrate the functions of the Ministry of Culture and the National Tourism Administration to establish a Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which will serve as a constituent department of the State Council.

　　National Health Commission

　　The National Health and Family Planning Commission will no longer be retained, and the Office of the Leading Group of the State Council for Deepening the Reform of the Medical and Healthcare System will no longer be established.

　　On March 27, the newly established National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China was officially unveiled. Sun Chunlan, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the unveiling ceremony and chaired a working symposium.

　　Responsibilities: Integrate the responsibilities of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the Office of the Leading Group for Deepening the Reform of the Medical and Healthcare System under the State Council, and the Office of the National Committee on Aging; the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology to lead the implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control; and the occupational safety and health supervision and management responsibilities of the State Administration of Work Safety. Establish the National Health Commission as a component department of the State Council.

　　The National Committee on Aging shall be retained, with its day-to-day operations assumed by the National Health Commission. The China Association of Aging, currently under the administration of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, will be transferred to the administration of the National Health Commission. The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine will be managed by the National Health Commission.

　　Ministry of Science and Technology

　　The National Natural Science Foundation of China will be administered by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

　　On April 10, the Ministry of Science and Technology officially held its unveiling ceremony. Minister of Science and Technology and Party Group Secretary Wang Zhigang, along with Vice Minister of Science and Technology Huang Wei, attended the ceremony.

　　Responsibilities: Integrate the functions of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the State Administration of Foreign Experts into a newly established Ministry of Science and Technology, which will serve as a constituent department of the State Council. The Ministry of Science and Technology will continue to maintain the nameplate of the State Administration of Foreign Experts externally.

　　National Supervisory Commission

　　The Ministry of Supervision and the National Bureau for Prevention of Corruption will no longer be retained.

　　On March 23, the National Supervisory Commission of the People's Republic of China was officially unveiled. Zhao Leji, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, attended the unveiling ceremony.

　　The Ministry of Supervision has been merged into the newly established National Supervisory Commission. The National Bureau for Prevention of Corruption has been merged into the National Supervisory Commission.

　　State Administration for Market Regulation

　　The State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and the State Food and Drug Administration will no longer be retained.

　　Responsibilities: Integrate the responsibilities of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, the State Food and Drug Administration, the Price Supervision and Anti-Monopoly Enforcement duties of the National Development and Reform Commission, the anti-monopoly enforcement related to operator concentration under the Ministry of Commerce, and the functions of the Office of the State Council Anti-Monopoly Committee, to establish the State Administration for Market Regulation as a direct affiliate of the State Council. At the same time, establish the National Medical Products Administration, which will be administered by the State Administration for Market Regulation.

　　China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission

　　The China Banking Regulatory Commission and the China Insurance Regulatory Commission will no longer be retained.

　　On April 8, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission was officially unveiled. Liu He, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the unveiling ceremony.

　　Responsibilities: Integrate the responsibilities of the China Banking Regulatory Commission and the China Insurance Regulatory Commission to establish the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission, which will be a public institution directly under the State Council.

　　The responsibilities of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission in drafting important laws and regulations for the banking and insurance sectors, as well as in formulating the fundamental systems for prudent regulation, will be transferred to the People's Bank of China.

　　National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration

　　The National Food Administration will no longer be retained.

　　On April 4, the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration was officially established. He Lifeng, Party Secretary and Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, and Zhang Yong, Deputy Director, attended the ceremony.

　　Responsibilities: Integrate the responsibilities of the National Food Administration, the State Development and Reform Commission’s functions of organizing and implementing the procurement, rotation, and management of national strategic materials, as well as the management of national reserves of grain, cotton, and sugar. Additionally, integrate the responsibilities of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Energy Administration, and other relevant departments in organizing and implementing the procurement, rotation, and daily management of national strategic and emergency reserve materials. Establish the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, which will be administered by the State Development and Reform Commission.

　　National Immigration Administration

　　On April 2, the National Immigration Administration and the Exit-Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China were officially established. Guo Shengkun, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Commission, and Zhao Kezhi, State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, attended the ceremony.

　　Responsibilities: Integrate the immigration and border control duties previously handled by the Ministry of Public Security, establish and improve a coordinated mechanism for visa management, set up a National Immigration Administration, affix the sign “Entry-Exit Administration of the People’s Republic of China” to it, and place it under the administration of the Ministry of Public Security.

　　National Forestry and Grassland Administration

　　The State Forestry Administration will no longer be retained.

　　On April 10, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the National Park Administration were officially unveiled. Zhang Jianlong, Director of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, attended the unveiling ceremony.

　　Responsibilities: Integrate the responsibilities of the State Forestry Administration, the grassland supervision and management responsibilities of the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as the management responsibilities for nature reserves, scenic areas, natural heritage sites, geological parks, and other such areas previously held by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Oceanic Administration, and other relevant departments. Establish the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, which will be administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The National Forestry and Grassland Administration will also carry the signboard of the National Park Administration.