The State Council recently issued the Guiding Opinions on Further Optimizing Government Services and Improving Administrative Efficiency to Promote "Efficiently Handling One Matter" (hereinafter referred to as the Guiding Opinions), making arrangements for deepening the improvement of government services in quality and efficiency and achieving "Efficiently Handling One Matter" in more fields and on a broader scale.

The Guiding Opinions point out that, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and fully implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, "Efficiently Handling One Matter" should be taken as an important lever for optimizing government services and improving administrative efficiency; overall design should be strengthened, model innovation promoted, and the dual-driven approach of reform leadership and digital empowerment emphasized; development and security should be coordinated and integrated online and offline development promoted, so as to achieve diversified service methods, optimized service processes, the simplest possible service materials, and minimized service costs, thereby maximizing benefits for enterprises and the public and stimulating the endogenous driving force of economic and social development.

The Guiding Opinions propose two-phase work goals. In 2024, the list management mechanism and regular advancement mechanism for key matters of "Efficiently Handling One Matter" will be improved, and the first batch of high-frequency, wide-ranging, and problem-heavy "one matter" items will be handled efficiently. By 2027, a highly efficient government service system that is ubiquitous and accessible, smart and convenient, fair and inclusive will basically take shape, and key matters of "Efficiently Handling One Matter" at important stages of both the enterprise and individual life cycles will be implemented with tangible results, greatly enhancing enterprises' and the public's satisfaction and sense of gain in handling matters.

The Guiding Opinions put forward key tasks in five areas. First, strengthen channel development by promoting offline handling of matters by "entering only one door," online handling through "one unified network," and responses to enterprises' and the public's demands through "one hotline." Second, deepen model innovation by promoting integrated handling of related matters, commitment-based handling of matters with tolerated deficiencies, cross-regional handling of out-of-locality matters, and application-free handling of policy services. Third, strengthen digital empowerment by relying on the national integrated government service platform to build a general online and offline hub for government services, focusing on improving the effectiveness of government data sharing, and continuously strengthening the full-process application of new technologies. Fourth, promote expansion of coverage and efficiency improvement by enhancing assisted-handling and agency capabilities, enriching the supply of public services, and expanding value-added service content. Fifth, consolidate the work foundation by improving the standards system and work system for government services and strengthening the institutional supply of government services.

The Guiding Opinions clarify the list of the first batch of 13 key matters for "Efficiently Handling One Matter." Among them, 8 are for business entities, including starting transportation enterprises, joint application for water, electricity, gas, and network installation, credit repair, verification of lawful and compliant information for enterprise listing, and enterprise deregistration. Five are for individuals, including education enrollment, social security card resident services, and services for persons with disabilities.

The Guiding Opinions emphasize that efforts should be pooled to tackle "Efficiently Handling One Matter," organization and implementation as well as publicity and promotion should be strengthened, the enthusiasm of local governments at all levels and relevant parties should be fully mobilized, coordination and cooperation should be enhanced, and work implementation should be vigorously pursued. Overall coordination should be strengthened, pilot demonstrations carried out, reform, innovation, and bold exploration encouraged, and a batch of key matters for "Efficiently Handling One Matter" introduced each year to ensure practical results.