Qiao, an ex-army officer, has deprived officials of decision-making rights on any construction projects since he helped set up a building projects trading center in the city four years ago.

In Taiyuan, the building market is worth some five billion yuan annually. Under the new system, all contractors have to win contracts through open, transparent and fair competition at the trading center, according to Qiao.

All procedures are computerized and supervised by electronic monitors, he says. No privileged people can get any contract in the city.

Like Taiyuan, many Chinese cities have established similar agencies to regulate the construction market and curb under-the-table deals. Taiyuan's success has attracted attention nationwide and many cities have sent officials to study its experience in the field.

Some local experts observe that the building industry involves huge investments, and corruption easily breeds if strict rules are not applied.

In recent years, the Chinese government has tried hard, issuing a series of relevant laws and regulations and punishing a large number of officials - including some high-level ones - for profiteering in the building market.

Since 2000, when China introduced the Invitation and Submission of Bids Law, an open bidding system has been adopted in all kinds of engineering projects financed with public or state funds.

Facts prove that a sound system can help protect public property and interests to the maximum, and can also help prevent many officials from becoming corrupt, experts say.

(People?s Daily August 5, 2002)