The State Council, or China's Cabinet, on Thursday published a list of items that no longer require central government approval or now only require consent from lower-level authorities.

The removal of the obligation of securing central approval for the items is part of efforts to cut government intervention in economic and social affairs.

A total of 71 items that were previously subject to central government administrative approval now no longer require such approval, according to a statement from the State Council published on the central government's website.

The move is intended to lower the benchmark for market entry, deepen investment structure reform, give full play to the market's role in resource distribution and inspire enterprises to use their own power for development, government spokesmen said.

China will also tighten controls over the number of new administrative approval items, said government spokesmen from three government organs in charge of the removal of administrative approval items.

More administrative approval items will be cancelled, especially those that have incurred complaints from the public and enterprises and have bearing on enterprises' operating costs and people's livelihoods, according to the spokesmen.

The removed items affect multiple aspects of the economy and society, from industry and agriculture to education and entertainment.

According to the State Council statement, companies that want to invest in civilian airport expansion, subway train production and the development of oil fields with an annual output of 1 million tonnes or more will no longer need government approval.

Foreigners will not need a police permit to travel in China in their own vehicles, according to the statement.

In addition, approvals for 20 items have been delegated to governments at lower levels, the statement said.

For instance, foreign companies can register their permanent representative offices in China with provincial governments instead of the central government. They can also apply to provincial governments to do business in China.

According to the statement, the central government also canceled three government fees and 10 programs related to government awards and evaluations.

It added that the State Council also plans to cut or downgrade 16 administrative approval items, although doing so will require legal revisions.

The State Council will follow legal procedure in appealing to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to amend related laws, the statement said.

Local government authorities are required to effectively implement the reform.

The State Council will launch investigations and hold those who have circumvented the reform accountable, according to the government spokesmen.