China to dismantle scandal-plagued railways ministry
The plan is to “dismantle” the ministry, the official Xinhua news agency reported, citing a report on institutional reform to be submitted to the National People’s Congress parliament meeting in Beijing.
China will split its railways ministry in two and switch control of its administrative functions to the transport ministry, a top official said Sunday, in an effective abolition of the scandal-plagued body.
"The railways ministry will no longer be maintained," Ma Kai, secretary general of the State Council, China's cabinet, was to tell the National People's Congress parliament meeting in Beijing, according to a copy of his speech.
The body's commercial functions will be taken over by a new China Railway Corporation, it said, adding that "there is a need to separate the administrative and the commercial sides of the railways".
The ministry’s commercial functions will be taken over by a new China Railway Corporation, it added.
The railway system has been one of China’s flagship development projects in recent years and the country now boasts the world’s largest high-speed network.