Guangdong was chosen for the program because of its position at the forefront of reform and its relatively high level of market development, Ma said, adding that economic and social developments in Guangdong have created an urgent need for further administrative reform.
In 2011, Guangdong's per capita GDP was 7,819 U.S. dollars, ranking seventh among China's 31 provincial regions, according to the provincial statistics bureau.
Guangdong has pioneered many cutting-edge reforms, including those used to promote transparent policymaking and increase the government's operational efficiency.
In October, the Guangdong government pledged to create a better commercial environment by cutting 40 percent of administrative approvals at multiple levels by 2013, as well as cut the amount of time required for reviewing procedures in half by 2017.
Since 2001, the government has made six attempts to clean up the administrative approval system, which has caused unnecessary government intervention in small business, power abuses and corruption.
Figures from the State Council, China's cabinet, show that a total of 2,497 administrative approval items have been rescinded or adjusted in the past ten years, accounting for 69.3 percent of the total.
However, "our reforms are still lagging far behind the country's economic and social development," said Ma.
She said the Guangdong program is expected to create experience for future reforms in other areas.
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