Yesterday, a deputy to China's top legislature said that future dilated figures for local gross domestic product (GDP) should be reduced as a result of double-checking introduced in January.

Ye Qing, deputy director of the Hubei Provincial Statistics Bureau, told Xinhua: "The gap between local and national statistics regarding GDP growth is expected to narrow next year."

Earlier this week, Li Deshui, director general of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), criticized local authorities for inflating GDP growth, noting that last year's national GDP growth rate, actually 9.5 percent, would have been 15.5 percent if local figures were to be believed.

The NBS began audit visits in 2004 and will inspect five provinces each year to ensure local figures are accurate and contain as few flaws as possible.

It is authorized to demand explanations from local bureaus for any errors in their reports, to discourage local governments from exaggerating economic growth with inflated figures.

Figures began to be double-checked by superiors this year in an attempt to further avoid flawed statistics being submitted.

"This will help local statistical bureaus withstand pressure from local governments," said Ye Qing, who was authorized by the National People's Congress (NPC) to inspect a number of cities and counties in the central province of Hubei last year.

"Statistics bureaus have to be independent from local governments to provide authentic and trustworthy figures," Ye said.

At the ongoing annual session of the 10th NPC, Ye also appealed for amending the law at an early date to further clarify the role of statistics departments. 

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2005)