Vice-Premier Li Lanqing in a written message on December 22 noted that the national taxation system should be implemented in accordance with related laws and regulations.

Li, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, urged the State General Taxation Administration (SGTA) to overcome difficulties and reach all taxation targets this year and in the first year of the new century.

Statistics released during today's national taxation conference in Beijing show that national tax revenue through the end of November stood at 917.2 billion yuan (110.5 billion US dollars), up 15.4 percent over the same period last year. Value-added and consumption tax revenues for the period grew by eight percent to 426.8 billion yuan (51.4 billion US dollars), and this year's planned target of increasing tax revenue by 100 billion yuan is expected to be achieved.

Jin Renqing, director of the SGTA, said the country has carried out a series of taxation policies to enlarge and stimulate domestic demand by returning export taxes, collecting individual income tax on saving interest, and reducing tax on investment projects and high-tech enterprises.

Moreover, Jin urged the national taxation system to accelerate taxation efforts by reducing tax arrears, strengthening tax audits, and introducing strong penalties for tax evasion.

The SGTA has mapped out a plan for next year's tax revenue calling for an eight percent, or 81.1 billion yuan (9.77 billion US dollars), increase over this year, he added.