Beijing to cull lavish spending

Beijing will cull spending on receptions, vehicles and overseas trips for officials, according to the Beijing Finance Bureau on March 12.

Spending on what is known as "the three public consumptions" have been deemed as a major source of corruption and waste.

The public reception expenditure has great potential to be cut, said Yang Xiaochao, director of the Beijing Finance Bureau. He added that administration fees including meeting fees, trip fees, study fees and training fees can be reduced.

The Party's ruling authority has ordered senior officials to reject "extravagance, formalism and bureaucracy" in a list of eight new requirements released at the end of last year. The move is aimed at improving the Party's working style and to get more connected to the common people.

Over the past three months, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's call for frugality among officials won widespread support from the people.

As a result of the frugality movement, gala events and extravagant banquets paid for with public funds were effectively curbed during this year's Spring Festival, which ended on Feb 15.