Office supplies: the latest front in Chinese president’s bid to cut lavish government spending
Chinese authorities have rolled out a new policy on purchasing office equipment and furniture in another bid to cut the mainland’s once notoriously lavish government spending.
Analysts say the policy is part of President Xi Jinping’s austerity drive aimed at alleviating public anger at extravagant and wasteful expenditure.
Jointly released on Monday by the Ministry of Finance and several other Communist Party and central government bodies, the policy covers a wide range of office supplies, from computers, scanners and copiers to conference tables, sofas and book shelves.
Communist Party banquets cut by half in 2013 under Xi’s austerity drive
The policy lists specific purchasing requirements, such as maximum prices and minimum service life.
Desktop computers should cost no more than 5,000 yuan, while laptops could cost up to 7,000 yuan. The figures include the cost of software and all computers need to last at least six years.
The previous policy, revised five years ago, set an upper limit for laptops at 10,000 yuan and required them to last a minimum of five years.
No costly, lavish furniture with exquisite materials should be allowed
“[We] must take full account of the layout of offices and adhere to the approach of combining economical, functional and durable considerations. No costly, lavish furniture with exquisite materials should be allowed,” it said.
