China has revised its regulations on government frugality and waste prevention, originally established in October 2013, with the updated version published on May 18. The new rules require all party and government agencies nationwide to “maintain strict frugality and lead by example in living frugally,” redirecting more funds toward “development needs and public welfare.”
According to Xinhua News Agency, the revised regulations were approved on May 2 and have been officially released nationwide, containing 11 chapters and 63 articles. The Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and State Council jointly issued a notice requiring all regions and departments to “strictly comply” with the updated regulations.
The notice states that the revised regulations modernize rules governing government spending, domestic travel, overseas business trips, official receptions, government vehicles, meetings, office space, and resource conservation. The changes strengthen accountability for practicing frugality and opposing extravagance, further tightening institutional controls on government belt-tightening.
The new regulations emphasize several key principles:
- maintaining strict frugality while conducting all undertakings economically,
- reducing costs of official activities, and
- reallocating funds to development and public welfare needs.
The regulations also stress improving efficiency through scientific resource allocation, strict expenditure control, and enhanced performance evaluation of cost-saving measures.
The regulations mandate transparency in government spending, requiring public disclosure of the use of public funds, assets, and resources in official activities, except for matters involving state secrets. Central government departments must “lead by example” in practicing frugality and opposing waste.
“Leadership at all levels must establish correct performance standards and lead by example, strictly prohibiting costly ‘image projects’ and ‘vanity projects’ that burden the people, while preventing major policy mistakes that cause serious waste.”
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), May 18, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202505180213.aspx