China's Xi highlights pilot programs in deepening reform

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on officials to spare no efforts in carrying out pilot programs in order to deepen reforms on Friday. Xi made the remarks at the 13th meeting of the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform, which was established in December 2013 to direct the ongoing reform drive. During the meeting, Xi emphasized the importance of pilot programs to reform work. Efforts should be made to ensure that the pilot programs are carried out well, which is key for the overall reform task to have good outcomes, Xi stressed. Officials explore effective methods and make good use of pilot programs to set good examples for the overall reform work, Xi said. At the meeting, the group approved guidelines on deepening reform of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and judicial system. The top leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) should be strengthened throughout the deepening reform of SOEs, the guidelines said, stressing the Party's key role in supervising the companies' management and operation. The national legal profession qualification system should be further perfected in an effort to build a loyal and high-quality legal work team, deepen reform and advance rule of law, according to the guidelines. The meeting also urged local governments to actively explore and carry out pilot reform programs in areas that are of vital interests of the people, such as education, employment, medical care, social system, innovation and entrepreneurship.