Provincial governments urged to disclose public spending

The State Council, China's Cabinet, has issued a deadline for disclosing government spending on public receptions, vehicles, and overseas trips, as well as information on investigations into scandals. Experts say the move aims to promote government transparency and fight against corruption. Hou Na reports.

Putting transparency high on the agenda. Government spending has long been at the center of public concern over the misuse of public funds and abuse of power.

The State Council requires provincial governments to disclose their spending on public receptions, official vehicles and overseas trips starting from 2013. Municipal and County governments will be expected to disclose such information by 2015.

Take the Meteorological Administration for example, it spent nearly 207.7 million yuan in these three areas in 2012.

That's about 3.6 million yuan less than the proposed budget.

The State Council has urged both central government agencies and local governments to cut spending on receptions, vehicles and overseas trips. These measures show the central government's determination to curb corruption and enhance transparency. Investigating corruption cases is also essential in the process of ensuring a corruption free administration. Recent cases of corruption brought against high-ranking officials reflect the new leadership's determination to investigate each graft case and punish corrupt officials.

Liu Zhijun, once hailed as the "father" of China's high-speed railways has been handed a suspended death sentence and had all his property confiscated.

Experts say the penalty shows the resolve of China's top leaders to target both high-ranking "tigers" and low-ranking "flies".

Gao Bo, Deputy Secretary General of China Anti-corruption Research Center, CASS, said, "He's the highest-ranking official to be sentenced for such offences since the country's new leaders took office. It indicates the determination of the new leadership to crack down on monopolies and corruption, in accordance with the law."

In the past three weeks, the CPC anti-corruption watchdog announced investigations into three vice ministerial officials, including Guo Yongxiang, the former Vice Governor of Sichuan Province.

Many low-ranking officials have also been investigated after social media users exposed cases of alleged corruption.

With more disclosures of government spending, transparency is better ensuring the public's right to know.

Besides transparency and punishment, the State Council requires further reforms in the legal and judicial sectors as part of the process of building a clean government.