According to Xie, from Jan. to July, the country's financial income surpassed 5.11 trillion yuan (751 billion U.S. dollars), up 25.7 percent year on year. The figure accounted for 69.2 percent of the budget.

Also, the country's financial expenditure reached 3.96 trillion yuan, up 16.9 percent year on year, accounting for 46.9 percent of the budget.

Xie said in the future the ministry would focus on promoting rural reform and development, deepening reforms on financial and tax policies and strengthening management of the financial budget.

In addition, Chen Zhili, vice chairwoman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered a report on an inspection on the enforcement of the Cleaner Production Promotion Law.

The Law, enacted in 2002, seeks to promote cleaner production, increase the efficiency of the utilization of energy resources, and reduce pollutants.

Chen said some enterprises were not fully aware of the importance of cleaner production and obligations to follow the law were not fully implemented.

While calling for more advanced techniques to support cleaner production, the report urged the clarification of responsibilities of related departments in promoting the law.

Thursday's meeting was presided over by Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

Reports on Wu's visits to France, Serbia and Switzerland, including his participation in the third World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, were also discussed during the meeting.