The Yao Foundation, established by former NBA star Yao Ming, is aiming to enlist the help of auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers as the public calls for greater transparency in the charity sector.

After a ceremony to announce a partnership with hotel company Marriott International on Wednesday, Yao said some PwC employees were working as volunteers at the Yao Foundation, which is looking to recruit the world's largest accountancy and consulting group as a long-term partner.

"Transparency is what Chinese charities most need, and the authorities have realized the seriousness of the issue and are putting forward rules on management," Yao said.