China's central government procurement were 29.14 billion yuan (US$4 billion) between 2003 and 2007, saving 6.25 billion yuan, according to a conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Statistics show the central government procurement were valued at 710 million yuan in 2003 and 11.75 billion yuan in 2007, the 2008 conference of central government procurement heard.

Ma Jihong, secretary of the CPC committee of the Central Government Procurement Center, said the government purchases mainly focused on energy-efficient, innovative and domestic products.

On-line products such as the software and Internet facilities the center bought were all domestically made with the country's own intellectual property rights.

"About 63.3 percent of the automobiles the government bought were domestic brands such as HQ, Chery and Roewe, and 55.7 percent of the government procurement was energy-efficient," Ma added.

Li Baorong, an official in charge of the procurement, said a standard government purchase system was conducive to creating a just competition environment, preventing commercial bribery and saving budget.

He called for a more transparent, simplified, convenient and fair procurement process. Currently, 80 percent of the procurement was completed on-line, with more than 17,000 suppliers.

(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2008)