The Chinese government on Monday signaled its intention to crack down on corruption in its 300 billion yuan (US$37.5 billion) government procurement market.

Finance Minister Jin Renqing said financial departments in charge of government procurement would coordinate the crackdown in a nationwide campaign until the end of this year.

The ministry would join with departments in charge of state assets in the fight against corruption involving property rights, said the minister.

Jin told a Finance Ministry tele-conference on the fight against corruption that the government would create and improve mechanisms for the long-term prevention of corruption.

He said the government would continue financial reforms and promote government transparency as part of the effort to reduce corruption.

The ministry published a telephone hotline number for the public to report corruption and irregularities earlier this month.

Government departments, including the Finance Ministry, and local governments have set up anti-corruption squads in response to the decisions by the central authorities earlier this year.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2006)