Charities and donors can be rewarded or penalized

Charities and donors will receive rewards or disciplinary action from up to 40 government departments based on their credit scores, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Li Bo of the ministry's bureau for social organization administration said departments including the central bank and the National Development and Reform Commission have signed a memorandum to share the credit data of both charitable organizations and those who donate to them, and to mete out rewards and punishments accordingly.

"The move signals that charities have been incorporated into the country's credit system," Li said at a news conference on Saturday.