China's central government budget stands at 10.9 billion yuan (US$1.32 billion), up 2.6 billion yuan, or 31 percent, year-on-year, officials with the Ministry of Finance said Friday.

The central government also increased budget funding for employment training programs for farmers to 400 million yuan (nearly US$50 million), compared with 150 million yuan (about US$20 million), said an official with the ministry.

Following rapid growth in budget funding for re-employment and social securities, this year's increased funding arrangements for re-employment programs for urban and rural residents show the government's commitment to a more harmonious society, said the official.

The Ministry of Finance will continue its effort to improve social security system in urban China, and to provide basic living allowance for those laid off by state-owned firms, he said.

The central government increased its allowance for re-employment by 2.225 billion yuan (US$271 million), or 54.6 percent, in 2004, while local governments also made similar arrangements, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the ministry earmarked 14.4 billion yuan (US$1.75 billion) in living allowance funding for jobless workers, and delivered 52.4 billion yuan (US$6.39 billion) in transferred payment for pension fund, which helped ensure retirees get their pension in time and in full.

(Xinhua News Agency May 28, 2005)