Budget plan will 'help the poor'

Low-income residents will benefit from the government's measures to increase spending on education, agriculture, healthcare and social security, a top budget official said yesterday.

"This year's budget plan could help maintain social stability and boost consumption," said Wang Dacheng, vice-director of the NPC Standing Committee's budgetary affairs commission.

The central government has earmarked 728.4 billion yuan ($106.4 billion) in its budget plan for education, healthcare, social security and housing for low-income residents, an increase of 29.4 percent from a year earlier, although the government only expects its revenue to grow at 8 percent. The government will also spend 716.1 billion yuan for rural residents and agricultural production, up 20.2 percent from 2008.