Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called on all sectors of society to pay their taxes and make still greater contributions to the fulfillment of the country's grand goal of building a prospering society.
Premier Wen made the call after reading a report by the State Administration of Taxation, which proposes to launch the 12th "National Taxation Publicity Month".
Premier Wen, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, highlighted the importance of taxation, citing taxation as a main source of revenue for the state and one of the government's means of macroeconomic control.
Greater efforts should be made to increase the publicity and education on the relevant laws, regulations and policies concerning taxation, educate the public in the awareness of taxation, enhance tax collections and management, and crack down on any crimes of tax-evasion and cheating according to law, he said.
Meanwhile, the premier urged all tax-payers to fulfill their obligations to pay taxes according to law and all tax officials and staff to faithfully perform their duties to collect taxes according to law, and do their jobs better still, so as to contribute more to society.
(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2003)