Chinese political advisors have stepped up efforts to promote the integrated reform of institutions and mechanisms in education, science and technology, and talent, said Liu Jieyi, spokesman for the fourth session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, on Tuesday.
The CPPCC, the country's top political advisory body, held a press conference in Beijing one day before its annual session.
Speaking at the press briefing, Liu elaborated on the CPPCC's support for the country's efforts to cultivate sci-tech talent over the past year.
"[The CPPCC] has carried out inspections, investigations, research, and consultations, submitting a total of 103 related proposals and having 65 pieces of public opinion information adopted. We put forward suggestions on strengthening the forward-looking layout of educational resources, accelerating the construction of world-class disciplines, strengthening the leading role of sci-tech innovation, improving the mechanism for independent talents cultivation, and promoting the integrated development of education, science and technology, talent cultivation. These have provided useful references for related departments to formulate policies," Liu said.
"CPPCC members in the field of education and science, based on their own positions, have leveraged their professional advantages, taken on the heavy responsibility in major sci-tech tasks and key core technology breakthroughs, explored new paths in the integration of industry and education as well as the convergence of science and education, taken the lead in reforming the talent cultivation model and innovating the evaluation mechanism, and built consensus and stimulate vitality in popularizing scientific knowledge and fostering an innovative culture. They actively contribute to the high-quality development of the education, science and technology, and talent cultivation," he said.
CPPCC steps up efforts on integrated development of education, sci-tech innovation, talent: spokesman
China's general public budget revenue reached 6.16 trillion yuan (about 897 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of this year, up 2.4 percent year on year, marking the fastest growth for the same period in three years, the Ministry of Finance said on Friday.
The central government collected about 2.5 trillion yuan in fiscal revenue during the period, up 2.7 percent year on year, while local governments collected 3.66 trillion yuan, up 2.1 percent.
"In the first quarter, the growth rate of China's general public budget revenue was 1.7 percentage points higher than in the first two months of the year and also outperformed the levels seen in the same period over the past three years. This reflects a strong and good start of China's economy in the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030)," said Wang Jianxun, director of the ministry’s Treasury Payment Center.
Tax revenue during the period totaled 4.85 trillion yuan, up 2.2 percent, while non-tax revenue rose 2.9 percent to 1.31 trillion yuan.
"Domestic value-added tax (VAT) revenue rose 4.9 percent year on year, driven mainly by growth in the industrial and service sectors and a narrowing decline in the producer prices. Revenue from VAT and excise tax on imports increased by 12.9 percent, reflecting a strong start in foreign trade. Revenue from stamp duty on securities transactions surged 78.1 percent, fueled by active stock market trading and higher turnover. Export rebates for VAT and excise tax reached 791.1 billion yuan, an increase of 36.2 billion yuan, or 4.8 percent, providing solid support for export growth," said Wang.
On the spending side, China's fiscal expenditure expanded 2.6 percent year on year to 7.47 trillion yuan in the first quarter, with the budget execution pace hitting a five-year high.
"Health care expenditure increased by 12.1 percent, mainly due to the centralized distribution of childcare subsidies and increased subsidies for the basic medical insurance fund. Social security and employment spending rose by 9 percent. Expenditure on urban and rural communities grew by 2.8 percent, while spending on housing support increased by 6.3 percent," said Wang.
China's Q1 general public budget revenue growth hits three-year high
