Xi Jinping calls for curbs on lavish official banquets

Communist Party chief Xi Jinping has again called for efforts to curb wasting of public money on extravagant meals.

All government agencies, military units, institutions, state-owned enterprises, non-profit organisations and officials at all levels should set exemplary standards of frugality when holding receptions and put an end to extravagance with public money, China Central Television quoted Xi as saying.

Xinhua said Xi was commenting on an internal report it had circulated to senior officials showing that internet users wanted to see an end to wastefulness at officials' dinner tables.

Xi, the party's new general secretary, said the report showed that wastefulness was a problem people opposed strongly, especially when it involved spending public money. He was sad to see it, given that so many people were living in poverty.

He called for the stepping up of a propaganda campaign honouring thrift and disgracing extravagance in all walks of life, and urging people to follow the fine Chinese tradition of "being diligent and thrifty".

Xi first called on officials to curb extravagance and live a thrifty lifestyle at a Politburo meeting in December in which he asked them to cut back on bureaucratic visits and meetings.