Chinese scholar says lack of fiscal transparency to blame for rampant corruption

Source: Xinhua | 03-10-2009 08:03

BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- The lack of essential fiscal information available to the public is posing a serous threat to China's bid for a harmonious society and is to blame for the widespread corruption, a Chinese scholar of public policy said here Monday.

Jiang Hong, member of the 11th National Committee  of the Chinese People's Political Consultative  Conference (CPPCC), speaks at the fourth plenary  meeting of the Second Session of the 11th National  Committee of the CPPCC held at the Great Hall of  the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 9,  2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

"The transparency level of our fiscal system is very low, even by the lowest standard," said Jiang Hong, a researcher from the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, told the ongoing annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a top political advisory body.