A high-level forum on pro-poor fiscal reform in China opened in Beijing on November 10.

The forum is an annual event held as part of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) project "Promoting Capacity Building to Support Pro-Poor Fiscal Reform in China."

The forum is sponsored by the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the State Administration of Taxation (SAT), the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and UNDP. It is also supported by UNICEF and other international organizations.

This year’s forum is the last in a series organized by the UNDP project to promote discussion on implementing pro-poor fiscal reform during China's 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010), and the upcoming 12th Five-Year Plan. The main focus of the discussions has been on building local government fiscal capacity.

The main theme of this year’s forum once again is improving the fiscal capacity of local government, with the aim of achieving poverty-reduction goals and constructing a harmonious society through fiscal and taxation reform.

More than 140 representatives from central and local government, Chinese and foreign academic institutions, and other organizations attended the forum, presenting papers and taking part in wide-ranging discussions.

The UNDP fiscal reform capacity building project is now in its fourth and final year and has made a number of significant contributions that will help China increase the pace of fiscal and taxation reform and enhance the management capacity of fiscal authorities in less developed regions.

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2009)