While reviewing reports of the central budget and audit this morning, members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, agreed to expose the illegal activities of certain ministries in the reports.

"I was shocked when I learned that 36 out of 55 ministries of the State Council had been found to have embezzled funds," NPC member Shen Xinsun said.

"However, exposing the malpractice illustrates that the principle of 'everyone is equal before the law' has been abided by," he pointed out.

Xu Jialu, vice-chairman of the NPC, noted that the government should invoke stiffer penalties to curb the illegal goings-on. "The government can enlist more professionals to supervise the implementation of the budget, and it is worthwhile to do so for it is in the interest of the general public," he continued.

He suggested bringing in outside auditing agencies to serve as watchdogs.

Former Minister of Finance Chi Haibing, who is also a member of NPC, called for a thorough review of the use of funds targeted at fighting the rampant embezzlement activities.

NPC member Du Yijin said that the National Audit Office should report its punishments on related persons in various cases to the NPC Standing Committee.

Other lawmakers expressed their concerns on the performance of bonds which were used to drive the economic growth because of the relax administration of bond-funded projects as specified in the report of the National Audit Office.

Thursday afternoon, Finance Minister Xiang Huaicheng and Li Jinhua, auditor-general of the National Audit Office, delivered reports on the central budget and audit to the 16th meeting of the Ninth NPC Standing Committee.

(People’s Daily)