Page 21 - REPORT ON THE EXECUTION OF THE CENTRAL AND LOCAL BUDGETS FOR 2022 AND ON THE DRAFT CENTRAL AND LOCAL BUDGETS FOR 2023

the NPC Standing Committee. Expenditures on non-obligatory and non-key items
were cut significantly, while spending on official overseas visits, official vehicles,
and official hospitality was under strict control. We steadily carried out a

dedicated campaign to put local government finance in good order and addressed
a number of violations of financial discipline. We continued with dedicated efforts

to address four types of violations of laws and regulations including practicing
accounting under the certified accountant credentials of others and selling audit
reports online. We intensified efforts to address the issue of bookkeeping agencies

operating without a license as well as the problem of false promises. A unified
platform for oversight of the operations of certified accountants came on stream.

We introduced guidelines on putting the state assets of administrative
departments and public institutions to good use; submitted a report on the

management of all state-owned assets in 2021 to the NPC Standing Committee;
and finished a report on the management of state-owned assets during the first

five-year period following the establishment of the system for reporting on
management of state-owned assets.
Looking back at the past five years, we have experienced an extraordinary

journey. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State
Council, finance departments adhered to the general principle of pursuing

progress while ensuring stability, fully and faithfully implemented the new
development philosophy on all fronts, continued to adopt a proactive fiscal policy,

and worked hard to promote high-quality development and actively foster a new
pattern of development. Finance, as a foundation and pillar of the country’s

governance, has effectively served and supported the Party and the government in
securing impressive achievements.
First, fiscal strength continued to increase. Revenue in the national general

public budget increased from 17.26 trillion yuan in 2017 to 20.37 trillion yuan in
2022, an average annual growth rate of 3.4%. Expenditures in the national general

public budget increased from 20.31 trillion yuan in 2017 to 26.06 trillion yuan in
2022, registering average annual growth of 5.1%. Continuous improvements were

made to the spending structure to provide strong financial support for the cause of
the Party and the country.

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