China on Wednesday released its most detailed budget in years, allowing the public a peek at how the central government is spending money.
According to several sheets released by the Ministry of Finance, China's central government is expected to rake in 7.06 trillion yuan ($1.1 trillion) this year, just up 3 percent, compared with the budgeted 7 percent growth in revenue last year. The central government is expected to spend 8.59 trillion yuan in 2016, up 6.3 percent, compared with 9.5 percent budgeted growth last year.
The central government is squeezing its outlays in general administrative spending to cope with mounting pressure in revenue and spending. Beijing planned zero growth in expenditure on car purchases, public reception, and overseas visits. Administrative and operational spending in most government departments was reduced.
Spending in other areas are also reduced or saw slower growth. Expenditure on culture, sports and communications dropped by 4.8 percent; spending on energy-saving and environmental protection was slashed by 22.7 percent. But social security and employment expenditure grew 22.8 percent and healthcare outlays surged 47.2 percent.