Electricty, salt industries crucial reform areas in 2015

(ECNS) -- The Chinese government has identified power generation, the salt industry and forestry as priorities for reform amongst its state-owned-enterprises in the last year of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015). 

Such reform aims to separate government functions from enterprises and asset management. 

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, salt industry reforms for 2015 would focus on four main areas: a strict food safety monitoring program following the abolition of the salt monopoly and licensing system; improving reserve mechanisms to ensure robust supply; accelerating industry development; and strengthening laws and regulations relating to the sector. 

The State Council, China's cabinet, approved the "New Electricity Industry's Deepened Reforms" in December last year.

Reforms would also help create an independent trading platform, opening up electricity transmission and distribution and electricity sales, aimed to increase electricity distribution, power generation and supply. 

The National Development and Reform Commission as well as the State Forestry Bureau have officially approved a state-owned forestry pilot reform program across seven provinces that include Hebei, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Shandong, Hunan and Gansu. 

The forestry reform group will carry out an inspection of the program upon completion during the first half of 2015.