Property ownership registry due to start operating in 2017
One benefit of nationwide system will be to make it easier to catch corrupt officials hiding their assets, say observers
A national government database of property ownership is to be tested later this year and should be fully operational by 2017.
The Ministry of Land and Resources said the database would be put online within the year and be expanded in 2016, Xinhua reported.
Observers have previously said one of the uses of a unified national property registry will be tracking the assets of corrupt officials who try to hide the extent of their wealth.
New national property registration certificates will be issued from March.
Certificates issued under the old system of registration will still be legally binding.
The national database will cover land and building ownership.
