China's audit organs discovered that 19.2 billion yuan of government funds for supporting agriculture was embezzled and 890 million yuan wasted in 2004 and 2005, after auditing 784 key agriculture-related projects.

The information was released at a national forum on audit work, held recently in east China's Shandong Province by the National Audit Office (NAO).

According to a report released at the forum, audit organs examined the use of agricultural funds in 50 counties and found some county governments obtained such funds by listing fraudulent expenditures, or embezzled such funds for other uses.

The NAO also found fund misappropriation in road construction projects, water conservation projects and rural elementary school repair projects.

Li Jinhua, China's top auditor or the head of NAO, said at the forum that as the central government is increasing funding for the development of rural areas and agriculture, the NAO and local audit organs will intensify auditing of the use of such funds.

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