China's national revenue exceeded 2 trillion yuan (US$241 billion) for the first time to reach 2.1691 trillion yuan in 2003, said Minister of Finance Jin Renqing on Saturday at the Second Session of the Tenth National People's Congress.

　　The central and local budgets were implemented fairly well last year despite a complex and volatile international situation, the unexpected outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome and frequent natural disasters, Jin told the national legislature.

　　National revenue, excluding revenue from generation of debt, was 278.7 billion yuan or 14.7 percent more than the previous year and 105.8 percent of the budgeted figure, the minister said in a report.

　　National expenditures totaled 2.4607 trillion yuan, an increase of 255.4 billion yuan or 11.6 percent year-on-year and 103.8 percent of the budgeted figure. Expenditures exceeded revenue by 291.6 billion yuan.

　　Total revenue in the central budget amounted to 1.2465 trillion yuan after allowing for the additional 82.9 billion yuan used in export tax rebates, up 109.3 billion yuan or 9.6 percent over the previous year and 104.4 percent of the budgeted figure.

　　Total expenditures in the central budget came to 1.5663 trillion yuan, including 824 billion yuan in tax rebates and subsidies for local authorities, 119.5 billion yuan or 8.3 percent more than the previous year and 103.5 percent of the budgeted figure. The deficit in the central budget was held to 319.8 billion yuan as approved at the First Session of the Tenth NPC, the minister said.

　　Total revenue in local budgets in China amounted to 1.8082 trillion yuan last year, including tax rebates and subsidies granted by the central government, an increase of 221.5 billion yuan or 14 percent year-on-year and 105.7 percent of the budgeted figure, Jin said.

　　Total expenditures in local budgets came to 1.78 trillion yuan, including 61.5 billion yuan turned over to the central government, 188 billion yuan or 11.8 percent more than the previous year and 104.1 percent of the budgeted figure.

　　Local revenue exceeded expenditures by 28.2 billion yuan which was to be used in the following year, the minister said.

　　Jin also told the NPC that government departments began to adopt five clear-cut policies to handle the problem of unpaid export tax rebates in 2003.

　　Under the policies, the government will restructure export rebate rates, retaining some of them while lowering others, with an average reduction of around 3 percentage points, he said.

　　Meanwhile, total export tax rebates verified for 2003 will be taken as the base figure, and payment for the portion of export tax rebates that exceed the base figure, if any, will be shared by the central and local governments at a ratio of 75:25 beginning this year.

　　Any increase in the value added tax and consumption tax on imports collected by the central government will be used first to pay export tax rebates.

　　(Xinhua)