China to cut US$6.5b a year in fees to spur business growth

Beijing

CHINA will cut roughly US$6.5 billion a year in taxes and fees as part of an effort to stimulate the slowing economy, the State Council said.

Starting January 2015, the government will scrap 42 administrative fees and 12 business registration fees, measures specifically tailored to relieve burdens on small businesses, according to the State Council, China's Cabinet.

Businesses with monthly sales of less than 30,000 yuan (S$6,351) will be exempt from five additional charges for the next three years, according to the State Council, which additionally said it would target pricing reforms to promote competition in the energy, transportation and environment sectors.

China's leaders have taken steps to steady growth levels as they confront mounting signs of a potentially sharp slowdown.

But calls for the government to ratchet up stimulus measures, including cutting interest rates, have intensified after official data showed third-quarter gross domestic product grew 7.3 per cent, the slowest pace since the global financial crisis.

New data has also showed a drop in bank lending and money supply growth this month.

Speaking on Saturday at the Group of 20 summit in Brisbane, Australia, President Xi Jinping sought to reassure global investors that his country would maintain "strong, sustainable and balanced growth". Mr Xi also said China will provide more demand and investment opportunities for the global economy as it undergoes structural reforms that foster opportunities for growth, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Using his latest catchphrase, Mr Xi said China's economy has entered a "new normal", there is plenty of growth momentum and development prospects are bright, Xinhua reported.

China will also adopt the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Special Data Dissemination Standards, Mr Xi announced. These standards are applied to the release of economic and financial data, aimed at increasing transparency and openness, according to the IMF website. REUTERS