3. Strengthening Fiscal Management and Improving Budget Performance

We will strengthen the legal framework for managing public finances. We will cooperate on revising the Budget Law, revise the regulations on enforcing it accordingly in a timely manner, and promote the formulation of fiscal and tax regulations such as a law on the environmental protection tax and the regulations on enforcing the Government Procurement Law. We will make budgets more detailed and scientific, and increase the funds available at the start of the year for budgetary items. We will bolster management of basic expenditures, promote compilation of itemized rolling budgets, and strengthen budget management of state-owned assets allocated by administrative agencies and institutions. We will strengthen the collection and administration of tax and non-tax revenue in accordance with the law, effectively manage the implementation of budgetary expenditures, and make their implementation more timely, balanced, effective, and secure. We will refine the single treasury account system and standardize the management of special fiscal accounts. We will promote performance-based management of budgets, strengthen evaluations of the performance of major expenditures on improving the quality of people's lives, and use government funds more efficiently. We will improve basic work on fiscal management and its development at the primary level. We will implement accounting norms and systems for public institutions. We will strengthen the management of local government debts; resolutely stop some localities securing financing or guaranteeing the payment of debts in violation of the law and regulations; place in due course revenue and expenditure of local government debts under budgetary management based on type; and establish a mechanism to warn when local government debts get too large. We will strengthen oversight and inspections to ensure that the major decisions, plans, and fiscal and tax policies of the central leadership are effectively implemented, and put China on a firmer and more sustainable fiscal course. We shall willingly accept the oversight of the NPC and listen to comments and suggestions from the CPPCC National Committee with an open mind in order to better manage public finances.

Fellow Deputies,

Successfully implementing the 2013 budgets is of great significance. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary, we need to follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development; work diligently and forge ahead; steadily promote fiscal development and reform; and make positive contributions to attaining the objectives for economic and social development in 2013 and achieving new victories in establishing a moderately prosperous society in all respects.