China austerity campaign knock official spending in 2013

Under President Xi Jinping, the Chinese leadership has cracked down on wasteful government spending and corruption, including officials wasting taxpayers' money on extravagances. Spending on official meetings, travel and vehicles in 2013 have reportedly fallen as a result - EPA Photo.

SHANGHAI: A campaign against Chinese government excess took major bites out of spending on official meetings, travel and vehicles in 2013, the Communist Party's chief disciplinary body said.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a statement money spent on meetings, official overseas trips and vehicle purchases fell by about 53%, 39% and 10% respectively from 2012.