The Chinese government will tighten management of expenditures
and hold down expenditures this year, while strengthening revenue
collection and management for steady revenue growth, Finance
Minister Jin Renqing said here Saturday.
The government will strictly tighten control over the
construction of office buildings and training centers built for
Party and government departments, and intensify efforts to solve
the root causes of the problems of overdue construction funding on
government-funded projects and unpaid wages for migrant rural
workers, Jin said in a budget report to lawmakers.
Meanwhile, the work style of "hard work, plain living and
building the country through diligence" will be promoted and the
policy of zero-growth for all general expenditures budgeted for
2004 be followed.
"No budgetary funds should be allocated for the wide variety of
inconsequential festivals, ceremonies and forums," said Jin at the
annual session of the national legislature.
To ensure revenue growth, the government will resolutely
safeguard the uniformity, authority and sanctity of tax laws,
severely crack down on smuggling, tax evasion and fraud and all
other tax-related crime, and standardize non-tax revenue
management.
The government will work out a scientific system for classifying
government revenue and expenditures as soon as possible and
continue standardizing administrative charges, he said.
The minister also urged financial authorities at all levels to
be realistic and pragmatic, work to effectively improve their style
of work, addressing the concerns of the people and the pressing
needs of development.
(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2004)
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