Chinese State Councilor Hua Jianmin has urged all central government departments to better abide by the Government Procurement Law, as part of the efforts to build up a clean government.

Hua, who is also the secretary general of the State Council, made the call in a speech at a conference Thursday on procurement by central government departments.

To implement the Government Procurement Law is part of the demands for establishing a public financial system, administering by law, regularizing government behavior, stepping up supervision over administration, and building a clean government, said the official.

He said that the government procurement system is based on the principle of openness, fairness and transparency, and all the purchases should be done through open bidding to prevent corruption.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2004)