Full text: Report on China's central, local budgets

4. Implementation of the NPC Budget Resolution

In accordance with the relevant resolution of the Fifth Session of the Eleventh NPC, as well as the guidelines of the NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, we strived to do better in public finance work.

First, we faithfully followed a proactive fiscal policy. We increased structural tax reductions and extended the pilot project to replace business tax with VAT from Shanghai to nine provinces and municipalities directly under the central government, including Beijing, and three cities specially designated in the state plan, thereby effectively promoting the development of the service sector and the optimization of the industrial structure and reducing the burden on enterprises. We raised VAT and business tax thresholds, and halved the corporate income tax on small businesses with low profits and expanded the scope of the policy to cover more businesses. Efforts were made to increase government subsidies, raise the income of low-income groups, and boost consumer spending. We improved the structure of government spending to direct more funding toward maintaining and improving quality of life and promote the development of education, health, social security, and other social programs. We better leveraged the role of fiscal and tax policies and worked to adjust the economic structure and balance regional development.

Second, we better ensured funding for county-level governments to perform their functions. We improved the mechanism for ensuring basic funding for governments at the county level, expanded its coverage, and increased the amount of funds guaranteed. The central government allocated a total of 107.5 billion yuan in awards and subsidies for this purpose, 30 billion yuan more than 2011, and provincial-level governments also carried out their responsibility in this regard, which basically made up the shortfall in funds for county-level governments and achieved the policy aim of ensuring these governments have sufficient funding to pay salaries, carry out normal operations, and safeguard the wellbeing of their residents.

Third, we strengthened management of local government debts. We further improved the system for managing local government debts, put them under standardized supervision, clarified who is responsible for repaying them, and saw to it that all local government bonds due in 2012 were redeemed on time. We also made notable progress in clearing debts of county-level governments.

Fourth, we pushed ahead with the work on releasing government budgets and final accounts. Relevant central government departments released their budgets and final accounts in accordance with relevant regulations. In addition to appropriations for spending on official overseas travel, official vehicles, and official hospitality disclosed in their 2011 final accounts and 2012 budgets, specific details regarding such expenditures were also made public. The information these departments provided was more meticulous, covered similar time periods, and was presented in a standardized form.

Fifth, we improved performance-based budget management. We worked hard to stress the importance of achieving results in the full course and every link of our budget management, formulated and promulgated a work plan for performance-based budget management, and made steady progress in carrying out pilot projects in this area. We also redoubled efforts to manage the implementation of budgetary expenditure, and implemented budgets more quickly. We tightened oversight of public finances, observed strict financial and economic discipline, and ensured smooth implementation of major policy decisions and plans of the central leadership.

Sixth, we dealt with suggestions and proposals. We handled a total of 3,803 suggestions and proposals in 2012. We also improved communication with NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members and increased efforts to translate their suggestions and proposals into policies and measures as well as concrete action.