12. Ministry of Industry and Information (MII)
| Minister: | Li Yizhong |
| Vice Ministers: | Wang Xudong Xi Guohua Miao Yu Chen Qiufa Lou Qinjian Ou Xinqian Yang Xueshan |
| Address: | 13 Xi Chang'anjie, Beijing, PRC 100804 |
| Telephone: | 86-10-6601-4249 |
| Facsimile: | 86-10-6201-6362 |
| Website: | www.mii.gov.cn |
| Departments: | General Office; Policy and Law; Comprehensive Planning; Science and Technology; Economic Reform and Economic Operation; Telecommunication Management Bureau; Economic Coordination and Telecom Business Settlement; Electronic Information Product Management; Bureau of Special Electronic Equipment; Information Promotion; Radio Regulatory Bureau; Foreign Affairs; Personnel; CCP Committee; Bureau of Supervision, Inspection, and Discipline Supervision Group; Bureau of Retired Postal Workers; Bureau of Retired Electronics Department Officials; Bureau of Institutional Service I; Bureau of Institutional Service II |
MII was created by the State Council in March 2008 to incorporate the functions of several previous ministries and offices, including the Ministry of Information Industry (the former MII), the ministry-level Commission of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND), the State Council Informatization Office, State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau, and all of the industry project approval functions previously held by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The new MII includes the subordinate State Bureau for Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense, which is responsible for management of defense, shipbuilding, and aerospace industries--previous functions of COSTIND. The new ministry will likely play a significant role in regulating major industries and in examining and approving new industrial investments and projects, especially in key areas like information technology, telecommunications, and national defense.
The new ministry is built around the core functions of the old MII, including regulation of electronics and information product manufacturing and oversight of the development of the telecom and software industries, including pricing of telecom. These functions also include project planning, development, and regulatory management of China's radio and television (including cable) transmission networks, as well as satellite telecom networks.
The creation of MII represented an attempt to divorce the regulatory and business arms of the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and to consolidate information technology regulation under a single authority. Though multiple new telecom providers have improved domestic competition, the consolidation of authority under MII has not lead to widespread liberalization in the sector, especially in the provision of telecom services.
From COSTIND, MII will inherit functions relating to the management of the defense industry, with a scope that covers the national defense department, various state nuclear agencies, the China National Space Administration, and certain administrative responsibilities of other major defense-oriented state companies such as the China North Industries Co. and China State Shipbuilding Corp. MII will also control weapons research and production in both military establishments and dual-role corporations, as well as R&D and production relating to "defense conversion"--the conversion of military facilities to non-military use.
With the addition of the now-subordinate State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau and the industry project approval functions of NDRC, the scope that the new MII covers has expanded considerably to include non-information technology areas. It remains to be seen how these new functions will be integrated with MII's core technology areas.
Return to PART V: State Council 27 Ministries and Commissions