The total value of China's government procurement in 2006 will hit 300 billion yuan (US$37 billion), said the Economic Information Daily on Wednesday quoting a document from China's Ministry of Finance.

The ministry said the figure will exceed the total of 2005 by 5 billion yuan (US$621 million).

The ministry says the 2006 government procurement program, which includes purchases for the whole country, will further expand the scope and scale of government purchases this year.

The document also lists steps to further tighten supervision over government purchasing which is open to official corruption.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2006)