The annual National Audit Work Conference was convened in Beijing on January 11, 2024. Mr. Hou Kai, Auditor General of the National Audit Office of China, attended the meeting and delivered a keynote speech.

It was made clear at the meeting that in 2024 audit institutions across the country shall carry out audits with the following six priorities:

·to promote high-quality economic development bearing in mind the country’s most fundamental interests;

·to deepen reforms in key areas;

·to continue to prevent and diffuse risks in key areas effectively;

·to enhance ecological conservation and green and low-carbon development;

·to ensure and improve the people’s wellbeing; and

·to strengthen the Party’s self-reform.

According to the conference, from January to November 2023, audit institutions in China audited over 56,000 entities, saved or recovered public funds of over 360 billion yuan, and improved over 16,000 items of rules and regulations.