Chinese Government Reorganization

Attention during China's annual lianghui (conferences of the advisory Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference followed by the largely rubber stamp legislative National People's Congress) focused on adoption of the constitutional amendment to eliminate term limits on the offices of President and Vice President, allowing President Xi Jinping to remain in office indefinitely.

Of critical importance also, however, was adoption of a host of major government reorganizations. Ministry-level organizations and different functions were merged into a smaller number of departments and the number of officials with ministerial rank will be reduced. After the reorganization, the number of ministerial-level organizations under the State Council will be reduced by eight, the number of vice ministerial-level organizations will be reduced by seven, and the State Council will consist altogether of 26 ministries and commissions (excluding the General Office of the State