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China defence budget to grow "modest" 14.9 pct in 2009

Tue Mar 3, 2009 10:25pm EST

BEIJING, March 4 (Reuters) - China's official military budget will grow to 480.6 billion yuan ($70.24 billion) in 2009, a 14.9 percent rise on last year's budget, the spokesman for the country's national parliament said on Wednesday, describing the increase as "modest".

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In 2008, China said it would spend 418 billion yuan on defence, up 17.6 percent on 2007. ($1=6.842 Yuan) (Reporting by Chris Buckley; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie)

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