China calls for fairer int'l tax system

The G20 should lead a drive to improve international tax governance, Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said at a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors in southwest China's Chengdu City on Saturday.

"The G20 should... support the development of a new international tax system which is fair, equal, inclusive and organized," Lou said.

Because of imperfect global tax governance, around 4 to 10 percent of global corporate income tax, equivalent to 100 billion to 240 billion U.S. dollars, is evaded through cross-border business activities each year, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Economies under pressure to expand fiscal income have begun to strengthen overseas taxation, which requires a new tax system that is well coordinated globally.

"The G20 countries may explore a more equal and rational international tax regime, which will promote international coordination and cooperation in taxation, and make greater contribution to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced global economic growth," Lou said.

Ninety-six countries and regions have promised to launch automatic exchange of taxation information by the end of 2017 or 2018, and an international protocol on multilateral taxation cooperation has been endorsed by more areas.

There is still much room for expanding cooperation among G20 countries, Lou said.

Lou said that tax policy should assume a more important role in coordinating global economic rules when "the effectiveness of fiscal and monetary policies is diminishing."

As the pace of economic recovery is uneven from country to country, promoting growth remains the core agenda of the G20, Lou added. Enditem