Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Monday urged deepening administrative reform in an effort to improve the socialist market economy, better opening to the outside world and promoting the country's modernization drive.

Addressing a seminar on improving administration and e-government at the Chinese National School of Administration in Beijing for ministerial and provincial officials, Wen said the key to pushing forward innovations in government administration lies in shifting the functions of the government.

Wen called for vigorous efforts in four areas to achieve the shift:

-- Resolutely separating government from enterprises. In the management of economic affairs, the government will mainly concentrate on providing services and creating a sound environment for economic development.

-- Accelerating the reform of the administrative approval system to give enterprises more freedom in making investment decisions and regulating the administrative approval system.

-- Strengthening governmental functions in managing social affairs and providing public services while continuing to bolster government roles in economic adjustment and market supervision.

-- Establishing the concept in government administration that "administration should center around serving the people", and promoting coordinated and sustainable development.

The premier urged improvements in rule of law and decision making mechanism, and advised tighter supervision of administrative power.

He said the government should seek the opinion of the public and experts when deciding important issues.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2003)