Ministry of Finance Official Answers Questions from Journalists Regarding 2026 Central Budget Disclosure

On March 26, 2026, the central government’s budget will be publicly disclosed to society. In this regard, a responsible official from the Ministry of Finance answered questions from reporters.

1. Please introduce the progress of central budget disclosure in recent years.

Answer: Budget disclosure is an important part of government information transparency, a key aspect of scientific financial management, and an inevitable requirement for improving the budget system. The Party Central Committee and the State Council have always attached great importance to budget transparency. The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party and the Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee explicitly required “standardization and transparency” as basic principles of the budget system. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee further proposed “improving budget disclosure and oversight systems.” In recent years, the Ministry of Finance has conscientiously implemented the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, strictly followed laws and regulations to disclose the central government budget approved by the National People’s Congress in a timely manner, actively organized and guided central departments to fulfill their main responsibilities, and ensured the effective disclosure of departmental budgets.

Regarding the disclosure of the central government budget: In 2009, the central government budget was disclosed for the first time, including four tables: the central fiscal revenue budget, the central fiscal expenditure budget, the central budget for the main level, and the budget for transfers and refunds of local taxes. In 2010, the scope expanded to include 12 tables covering general public budgets, government fund budgets, state-owned capital operation budgets, and others. In 2018, the scope was further expanded to include the social insurance fund budget. In 2019, 42 regional transfer payment projects from the central government to local governments were added for disclosure, and the scope continued to expand. By 2026, the number of regional transfer payment projects disclosed increased to 49.

Regarding the disclosure of departmental budgets: In 2008, a pilot program was launched involving 11 departments, including the Ministry of Science and Technology, to internally disclose departmental budgets through posting and consultation. In 2010, guidance was issued requiring central departments to assume main responsibility for budget disclosure and to proactively disclose budgets in a timely manner. That year, 78 central departments disclosed their budgets. By 2011, the number increased to 96 departments, and for the first time, the “three public” expenses (public funds for official vehicles, official receptions, and official travel) of central departments were disclosed to the public. In 2013, all central departments disclosed their budgets within a single day. Starting in 2017, budgets disclosed on departmental websites are centrally displayed on the “Central Budget and Final Accounts Disclosure Platform” on the Ministry of Finance’s portal, improving accessibility.

2. Please introduce the progress of local government budget disclosure in recent years.

Answer: In recent years, the Ministry of Finance has continuously strengthened guidance to local governments, urging them to fulfill their main responsibilities for budget disclosure, organize and improve the work, and ensure full transparency.

Regarding provincial government budget disclosure: On May 1, 2008, the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Government Information Disclosure came into effect, explicitly including fiscal budgets and final accounts as proactively disclosed government information. Since then, provincial governments have actively promoted budget information disclosure in accordance with the regulations. Currently, all provincial governments disclose their budgets proactively. The Ministry of Finance has set up a “Provincial Budget and Final Accounts Disclosure Column” on its portal, aggregating provincial budget disclosure platforms or columns into a map-linked display.

Regarding departmental budget disclosure at the provincial level: In 2008, the Ministry of Finance issued the “Guiding Opinions on Further Promoting Fiscal Budget Information Disclosure,” guiding provinces to standardize departmental budget disclosure. Provincial financial departments have strengthened organizational guidance. Currently, all provinces have publicly disclosed departmental budgets approved by provincial financial departments.

Regarding budgets below the provincial level: In 2014, the Ministry of Finance issued the “Notice on Deepening the Disclosure of Local Budget and Final Accounts,” guiding local governments to promote budget disclosure below the provincial level. Now, local governments at all levels have established relatively complete budget disclosure mechanisms, organizing annual proactive disclosure of government budgets and departmental budgets.

Statistics show that since 2022, the budget disclosure rate of local governments at all levels has been 100%, with provincial, municipal, and county departments’ budget disclosure rates exceeding 99%. Through joint efforts, government budget disclosure has achieved remarkable results, with increasing depth and breadth, essentially realizing “full disclosure where required,” and significantly improving fiscal transparency.

3. What are the main contents and disclosure plans for the central budget in 2026?

Answer: 2026 marks the start of the “14th Five-Year Plan,” and ensuring budget transparency is of great significance. The Ministry of Finance will diligently and lawfully carry out the 2026 central budget disclosure work, guiding central departments to disclose their budgets as required.

Regarding central government budget disclosure: The content includes the central four budgets, regional transfer payment budgets, and related explanations. Specifically: (1) the income and expenditure of the general public budget, government fund budget, and state-owned capital operation budget, along with explanations of changes; (2) the income, expenditure, and balance of social insurance funds; (3) the debt balance limit; (4) the regional breakdown and explanations of 49 transfer payment projects.

Regarding departmental budget disclosure: The content covers overall departmental income and expenditure budgets, fiscal appropriation budgets, and key matters explanations. Specifically: (1) nine tables including departmental income and expenditure summaries, fiscal appropriation budgets, general public budgets, basic expenditure, government fund budgets, state-owned capital budgets, and “three public” expenses; (2) explanations of changes in budgets, agency operating expenses, “three public” expenses, government procurement, state assets occupation, performance management, and projects submitted for review by the National People’s Congress, along with definitions of technical terms.

Additionally, to facilitate public access, understanding, and supervision, departmental budgets will continue to be disclosed on departmental websites and centrally on the “Central Budget and Final Accounts Disclosure Platform” on the Ministry of Finance’s portal, making it easier for the public to oversee government financial work.

4. Please introduce recent developments in the disclosure of performance targets by central departments.

Answer: Performance target disclosure is an important part of budget transparency and an effective measure to improve readability and strengthen public supervision. In 2017, the Ministry of Finance organized the first public disclosure of project performance targets by central departments. Since then, the disclosure has gradually increased, from 10 targets in 2017 to 809 in 2025. In 2026, central departments are generally expected to publicly disclose performance targets for at least 60% of their primary projects in general public budgets, government fund budgets, and state-owned capital budgets.

Moving forward, the Ministry of Finance will continue to promote the disclosure of performance targets to the public, further improving the quality of performance goal information.

(Source: Ministry of Finance)