China to extend anti-corruptio

China's National Bureau of Corruption Prevention said in a circular posted on its website Monday that it would explore ways to fight corruption in non-public commercial entities and "new social organizations" in 2010.

"New social organizations" refer to intermediaries, non-governmental organizations and private non-business groups. Statistics from the Ministry of Civil Affairs showed there are around 400,000 such organizations in China.

Industry associations will also be monitored for corruption, according to the circular, which highlighted the bureau's work in 2010.

The bureau promised that it would earnestly exchange and cooperate with the international community in the anti-corruption efforts.

It said that authorities would continue working to prevent officials using public money to travel overseas and they would work on the implementation of regulations for supervising officials whose spouses and children have emigrated abroad.

It also pledged to improve transparency of government affairs as well as factory and village management's dealing of local affairs.

According to an survey carried out by People's Daily Online, corruption has remained one of the top three concerns of Chinese netizens since the survey was initiated in 2006.

Chinese authorities' latest move in the fight against corruption took place on Saturday as the State Council issued a revised regulation on the implementation of the Audit Law, which aims at tightening supervision of areas highly prone to corruption, including the construction industry.