Officials told to stop fake data

Top officials on Tuesday stressed the need to "prevent and punish" fake government statistics, an issue that has led some skeptics to question whether manipulated data masks the country's actual economic conditions.

A meeting of a top Party reform group, chaired by President Xi Jinping, said officials must strengthen supervision over fraudulent data and ensure independent investigation and reporting over statistics, organizations and personnel.

"Independently ensure that supervision authorities are not infringed upon, ensure that all types of cases of manufactured statistics are inspected in a timely and effective manner, ensure statistics are truthful, accurate, complete and timely," the group told officials, according to Xinhua News Agency.

"Prevent and punish counterfeit statistics" according to law and Party discipline, it said without specifying the types of data or specific agencies.

The main economic indicators, such as gross domestic product from local governments, routinely hew close to official targets, which has led some analysts to question their accuracy.

The National Bureau of Statistics has defended its data in the past, saying that critics did not fully understand the accounting methods that China uses and that authorities continuously refine the accuracy of figures.

A series of proposals were also passed at Tuesday's meeting, such as measures to boost the development of the mobile internet, enhance the protection of the country's rivers and lakes, improve work safety and open up the elderly care market to attract more private investment.

China Daily contributed to this story.