BEIJING - China's crack down on extravagant spending by officials has saved the country 5.7 billion yuan ($860 million) this year, an official with the top anti-graft authority said Wednesday.

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To promote frugality and curb extravagant spending of public money was an important part of the work of the CPC discipline watchdog this year, said Wu Yuliang, secretary general of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC), at a press conference held in Beijing.

The central authorities will soon issue new and stricter regulations on cars purchased with public money, so that less expensive cars would be purchased, Wu said.

The official said he was willing to give details on this subject after the regulations were published.

The public spending on cars will be a key issue to be addressed by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection in the coming year.