The amended draft of the Audit Law of the People's Republic of China was passed at the State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on May 6.

With the basic audit system unchanged, the audit scope should be expanded under the framework of the Constitution and laws, according to those at the meeting.

Apart from government-invested construction programs, other major public engineering programs, State resources, State assets, public funds, and regional banks should be under auditing supervision.

"The legal system of audit work should be enhanced to promote full coverage of auditing supervision. Departments should cooperate in and accept auditing supervision, to ensure fiscal funds can benefit people to the full extent," the Premier stressed.

Audits play a key role in economic life, Premier Li said. Public finance, the very foundation of administration, calls for sound audit work.

Faced with the downward economic pressure of recent years, the government tapped the full potential of existing fiscal funds underpinned by robust audits, the Premier said, and the audit departments' strict supervision has made direct fiscal funds more efficient.

Audit work also plays a significant part in people's livelihood, the Premier said.

The government should leave no stone unturned to boost employment and energize all market entities, he said, and auditing supervision calls for independence and public credibility, in order to ensure fiscal funds are fully used for the sake of people's livelihood.

The draft required that units being audited should rectify identified problems in due time, and that audit departments should conduct follow-up checks.

It was decided at the meeting that the draft will be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for review.