Accounting standards development in China

This chapter provides a brief account of the evolution of accounting standards in China. It presents that evolution as a sequence of distinct phases, each coinciding with new directions in China's economic and political development. The development of new accounting standards can be viewed as an integral part of China's commercial reformation. The promulgation of those standards has thus coincided with China's increasing integration into the global economy. As with so much of China's recent economic advances, its accounting standards have adopted Western principles and practices whilst maintaining a distinctive cultural orientation. The future development of China's accounting standards will continue to aim for increasing convergence with international financial reporting standards, whilst simultaneously taking heed of its national interests.