The central government allocated about 255.5 billion yuan (37.15 billion U.S. dollars) in the field last year, up 13.9 percent year on year, with spending on pollution control and treatment of air, water and soil reaching record highs in recent years, Chinese finance minister Liu Kun said Wednesday while delivering the report to a session of the standing committee of the country's top legislature.

 

Central government spending on poverty alleviation also increased, up by 23.2 percent year on year, while that for receptions, vehicles and overseas trips fell short of the budget.

 

Growth of the central government's general public budget revenue slowed down to 5.3 percent in 2018, with total revenue standing at about 8.5456 trillion yuan.

 

Expenditure reached over 10.3409 trillion yuan, leading to a fiscal deficit of 1.55 trillion yuan.

 

Outstanding local government debt stood at about 18.4618 trillion yuan by the end of 2018, well within the official authorized range.