China's top economic planner said Monday it would publicize incidence of fraud in public bidding from next year.

The move was aimed at standardizing the nation's public bidding market, cracking down on illegal activities and promoting self-discipline in public bidding, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said.

Under the provisional regulations for publicizing fraudulent activities in public bidding, promulgated by the NDRC and nine other ministerial departments, the records of criminal offences in public bidding would be a key reference in judging the qualification of the relevant public bidding agency and the tender winner as well.

The records would be made public via a planned national credit system of public bidding activities, according to the provisions.

Under Chinese law, public tenders must be carried out in selecting suppliers or contractors of major government procurement and infrastructure projects.

(Xinhua News Agency June 24, 2008)