China’s wasteful government spending drops by $9 billion

The Chinese government’s expenditures on overseas trips, lavish receptions and official cars have dropped by almost $9 billion over the past year.

The announcement comes as President Xi Jinping’s campaign to tackle decadent working practices in the ruling Communist Party draws to a close.

More than 150,000 “ghost jobs”, where people are paid even if they do not turn up, were found in the clean-up.

Xi Jinping has repeatedly said corruption threatens the party’s existence.

The stated aim of the mass-line campaign, as it is known, is to strengthen the party’s ties with the Chinese population.

Official spending on government cars, receptions and trips was down almost a third compared with the year before.

Past leaders have warned that if you fight corruption too much then you will destroy the party – but if you fight it too little then you will destroy the country.