Long-term focus again for government spending

In the first half of the year, the national general public budget expenditures increased by 4.5 percent year-on-year, of which the central level expenditures declined by 6.9 percent and those of the local level increased by 6.4 percent. The drop in the central expenditures reflects the tightening by the central government.

Education, social security and employment and public health are the three sectors that saw the fastest growth in government expenditure, rising 10.1 percent, 8.2 percent and 3.8 percent respectively.

That means governments of various levels regard people's livelihoods and basic public services as the foundation for social stability, and key indicators of the efficiency of the State governing system and capacity.