¡¡¡¡China's deficit for 2003 is budgeted to be 10 billion yuan more than in 2002, according to a report presented by Minister of Finance Xiang Huaicheng to the first session of the 10th National People's Congress here Thursday morning.

¡¡¡¡The deficit for 2002 was 309.8 billion yuan.

¡¡¡¡Xiang told the top legislature body that the total receipt of the central finance is budgeted to be 1.194 trillion yuan, 57.5 billion yuan or 5.1 percent more than in 2002 and the total expenditure is budgeted at 1.5138 trillion yuan, 67.5 billion yuan or 4.7 percent more than in 2002, leaving a deficit of 319.8 billion yuan, 10 billion more than in 2002.

¡¡¡¡The deficit, plus the domestic and foreign debts overdue, willbring the total debts of the central finance up to 640.4 billion yuan.

¡¡¡¡The total receipt of local finances for 2003 is budgeted at 1.7105 trillion yuan, 121.9 billion or 7.7 percent more than in 2002 and their total expenditure is budgeted at 1.7105 trillion yuan, 121.9 billion or 7.7 percent more than in 2002.

¡¡¡¡Putting the budgets of the central and local finances together,the total national receipt in 2003 will be 2.0501 trillion yuan, 158.7 billion or 8.4 percent more than in 2002 and the national total expenditure will be 2.3699 trillion yuan, 168.7 billion or 7.7 percent more than in 2002.
(Xinhua)