China launches large land-sale audit to fight corruption   

土地反腐前奏 出讓金審計四大重點

(ECNS) – China is launching a nationwide audit of local governments' land income this week in a move to fight corruption, the Economic Observer reports.

Led by the State Council, the move will involve audits of land income, land requisitions, reserves and supplies between 2008 and 2013, changes in farmland volume between 2009 and 2013, the protection of cultivated land, and sea use planning.

The audit report is expected to be released in October.

Land sales have become a vital source of income for local governments. In 2013, land revenue totaled 3.91 trillion yuan ($640 billion), according to the Ministry of Finance. The figure was 2.67 trillion yuan in 2012.

The audit will help disclose the status quo of local land use and possibly reveal illegal practices. A guide to the audit has listed 17 key items that are likely to breed corruption, such as land auctions.

This time the audit will also be extended to local governments' use of the proceeds from land sales. Experts say that any problems found could threaten related financing programs.