China has issued a new regulation on spending for official conferences, pledging to streamline government work and curb extravagance.

The regulation, which was published on Monday and takes effect on Jan 1, applies to the central organs of all political parties, the top legislative and political advisory bodies, central government departments and publicly funded organizations overseen by the central government.

It aims to close loopholes in the current regulation, which has failed to constrain unnecessary meetings and extravagance, said a statement from the Ministry of Finance, which led the drawing-up of the regulation.

Organizations covered by the document must include spending for their conferences in their annual budgets and give details on each item in the expenditures, the regulation stipulates, adding that no cost beyond the budget will be allowed.

Spending must be settled through a bank transfer or government credit card instead of cash.

Conferences with fewer than 50 participants should use the organizer's meeting room rather than venues in a hotel. Five-star hotels shall not be used unless the conference is hosted in the name of the Communist Party of China Central Committee or State Council, and such meetings must be approved by the two before being held.

Organizers are forbidden to charge attendees for their meetings or ask their local branches or companies to pay for conference spending. They are also banned from choosing places outside Beijing if participants are mainly based in the capital.

Full story