Auditor-General of China
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| Auditor-General of China | |
|---|---|
| Post | Auditor-General |
| Body | China |
| Incumbent | Hou Kai |
| Incumbentsince | 2022 |
| Department | National Audit Office of the People's Republic of China |
| Reports to | Premier of the State Council |
| Appointer | President of the People's Republic of China |
| Termlength | Five years, renewable |
| Formation | 1983 |
| First | Yu Mingtao |
Auditor-General of China. The Auditor-General is the principal administrative leader of the National Audit Office of the People's Republic of China, serving as the nation's supreme auditor. Appointed by the President of the People's Republic of China, the officeholder is responsible for overseeing the audit of central government finances and state-owned assets. The position is a critical component of the State Council's financial oversight apparatus, reporting directly to the Premier of the State Council.
History and establishment
The modern office was formally established in 1983 under the provisions of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the subsequent Audit Law of the People's Republic of China. Its creation marked a significant institutionalization of financial supervision following the Chinese economic reform initiated by Deng Xiaoping. Prior frameworks for state audit existed within the Ministry of Finance and other bodies during the era of the planned economy. The evolution of the role has been closely tied to the development of the socialist market economy, with its legal authority strengthened through amendments to the Audit Law by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
Appointment and term
The Auditor-General is appointed and may be removed by the President of the People's Republic of China in accordance with decisions made by the National People's Congress. The nomination is typically put forward by the Premier of the State Council. The standard term of office is five years, corresponding with the session of the National People's Congress, and there is no constitutional limit on reappointment. The appointment process is a formal part of the state leadership selection conducted during the annual Two Sessions in Beijing.
Functions and responsibilities
Primary functions involve directing the National Audit Office to audit the implementation of the central budget and other fiscal revenues and expenditures. This includes auditing key departments like the Ministry of Finance, the National Development and Reform Commission, and central state-owned enterprises such as Sinopec and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. The Auditor-General supervises audits of major national projects, social security funds, and overseas aid programs. A key duty is to submit annual audit work reports to the Premier of the State Council and the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, often influencing policy adjustments and anti-corruption efforts led by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Organizational structure
The Auditor-General leads the National Audit Office, which is composed of numerous functional departments and regional special commissioner offices. Key internal divisions typically include departments for fiscal audit, financial audit, enterprise audit, and agricultural resources audit. The office maintains a direct reporting relationship with local audit institutions, such as the Audit Bureau of Shanghai Municipality, for professional guidance. The organizational framework is designed to ensure independent audit operations across provinces like Guangdong and Xinjiang, as well as in major cities including Chongqing and Tianjin.
List of Auditors-General
Since its establishment, the position has been held by several officials. The inaugural Auditor-General was Yu Mingtao, who served from 1983 to 1998. He was succeeded by Li Jinhua, whose tenure lasted from 1998 to 2008. Liu Jiayi then held the office from 2008 to 2022, overseeing significant expansions in audit scope. The current Auditor-General, Hou Kai, was appointed in 2022 following a nomination by Premier Li Keqiang and appointment by President Xi Jinping.
Relationship with other state bodies
The Auditor-General operates under the administrative leadership of the State Council while exercising constitutional audit power independently. The office works in coordination with the Ministry of Finance on budgetary matters and with the National Development and Reform Commission on investment audits. Its findings often provide crucial evidence for the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Supervision in corruption cases. The annual audit report is a key document reviewed by the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, influencing legislative oversight and fiscal policy.