CRNTT:
In recent years, the central government has taken the lead in living on a tight budget, and the saved money has been used to improve people's wellbeing. So what are the considerations for the central government to live on a tight budget this year? Thanks.
Liu Kun:
You asked a question that is concerned by all. Just like you said, the government is now living on a tighter budget. Take the central government as an example. The expenditure at the central level has registered negative growth for two years in a row. In addition, the spending on official overseas visits, official vehicles, and official hospitality have been cut for successive years, declining from 8.107 billion yuan in 2019 to 5.187 billion yuan in 2021, down by 36%.
However, I want to make it clear that tightening the belt of the government is a policy that we must uphold on a long-term basis, rather than it being a short-term measure. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized on many occasions that the Party and the government tighten their belts to let the people live better lives — it is a move determined by the nature and the mission of the Party. To limit government spending, we should implement the instructions and demands of General Secretary Xi Jinping. Party and government departments, the central government organs, in particular, should set an example by practicing thrift and economy, and invest the money saved to improve people's livelihoods and support market entities. This policy was not adopted as a result of fiscal pressures.
Remaining committed to the instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, we will ensure austerity in all endeavors — taking it as kind of political awareness and political responsibility — and keep government spending low and enrich our people.
First, we will cut expenditures in a scientific way. This year, the central government will further cut outlays on non-obligatory and non-essential items, save money that is supposed to be saved, and ensure outlays on the operation of government departments and other essential items.
Second, we will continue to live on a tight budget. We will take rigid measures to control expenditures on meetings, trips, training programs, and forums, prohibit the construction of new government buildings or the extension to such facilities, ban unnecessary meetings and projects, and cut out or reduce spending whenever and wherever possible.
Third, we will see that funds are put to better and more effective use. We will keep track of the efficiency of fund use, and carry out performance evaluations to push all departments to improve the efficiency of fund use and make every cent count. Thank you.
