Public welfare, gov't thrift stressed locally in economic growth

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-15 22:06

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China's GDP expanded 9 percent in the third quarter last year, down from 10.1 percent in the second quarter and 10.6 percent in the first.

In the face of the difficult economic situation and a downturn in revenue growth, many provincial authorities have set a goal of "zero growth" in administrative spending.

"We will continue to be thrifty in all our work and continue to cut government spending and strictly control costs for meetings, business travel, study abroad and receptions this year," Mayor Guo Jinlong said in the work report to Beijing's legislative annual session this week.

The capital would use more money to expand demand, promote economic growth and improve living conditions.

"In 2009 and after, we (government staff) should tighten our belts and ban waste," said Qi Shouyin, director of the finance department of northern Hebei, earlier this week at the provincial people's congress.

Qi said the province would realize a "zero growth" in administrative costs under the scrutiny of lawmakers, political advisors and the public.

Central Hunan and northwestern Shaanxi also pledged no increase in administrative costs so as to pour more money into other causes.

The local authorities' focus on public welfare and cutting government expenditure accorded with the scientific outlook on development and the governance idea of putting public interests first, said Zhang Liqun, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council, or Cabinet.

To invest more money in improving people's lives was conducive to expanding their consumption in a direct or indirect way and thus domestic demand, he said.

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