The latest report by the National Bureau of Statistics says that China invested 334.9 billion yuan (US$40.35 billion) in education in 1999, up 13.56 percent from the previous year.

The Ministry of Education announced Monday in the report that the central government and local governments allocated a total of 181.58 billion yuan (US$21.88 billion) in education, an increase of 15.98 percent over that of the previous year.

However, the report also noted that the ratio of education expenditures among national fiscal expenditures has reduced in the country's 13 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities.

Statistics also show that the education expenditure accounted for 2.7 percent of the country's GDP in 1999, an increase of 0.24 percentage points over that of the previous year.

The result of the 1999 education investment showed that governments at all levels have given priority to the development of education, and kept on increasing the education investment.

But, according to the ministry, some provinces and autonomous regions are yet to reach the target set by the "Education Law" on the investment increases in education.

(People's Daily 11/14/2000)