Hebei province has made significant strides in improving its business environment through legal reforms, with its rule of law environment now ranking eighth nationally, a senior official said on Monday.

Peng Jingjie, deputy director of the Hebei Provincial Department of Justice, said at a news conference that the department has implemented a series of measures to create a law-based business climate.

In the 2025 national survey by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, Hebei's legal environment scored 86.28 points, ranking eighth in the nation.

The department reported a 33.38 percent reduction in administrative inspections of enterprises following a designated campaign. Administrative penalty income dropped by 12.46 percent, recovering 420 million yuan ($61 million) for enterprises, Peng said.

Among all measures, new technologies have been introduced to streamline oversight.

Sun Guang, director of the department's administrative law enforcement coordination and supervision division, introduced a code-scanning software for inspections.

According to Sun, enforcement officers must use the software to log inspection details before entering a company, which then generates a color-coded permit system depending on whether the inspection frequency is within the limit, has reached the cap, or has been prohibited, effectively curbing arbitrary checks.

Zhang Yi, director of the department's public legal service management division, outlined plans to improve service accessibility. These include streamlining legal procedures, establishing fast-track channels for intellectual property arbitration, and launching a talent training program to support key industries.

Peng emphasized that the department would continue regulating law enforcement and improving legal services to support Hebei's high-quality development this year.