Premier Wen Jiabao said Tuesday the Law on Administrative Approval is an important law for regularizing government conduct, and governments at all levels should exercise their power according to law and for the people.

Wen hoped the new law could help boost the government's efforts to shift its functions to meet the demands of the market-oriented reforms.

At a national meeting on implementing the new law, the premier pledged to further reform the government by placing more emphasis on social administration and public service, separating its functions from those of enterprises, making decisions in a scientific and democratic way, and encouraging innovative methods in government work. He urged local government officials to study the new law carefully before implementation.

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2004)