Fu Ying, spokesperson for the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress (NPC), answers questions during a press conference on the session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijingon on March 4 (WEI YAO)

China will raise its defense budget by around 7 to 8 percent this year, a spokesperson for the annual session of the national legislature said on March 4.

At a press conference a day ahead of the National People's Congress annual session, spokesperson Fu Ying said the increase is in line with China's national defense need and fiscal revenue.

The exact figure will be released in a budget report March 5.

China's defense budget rose by 10.1 percent last year.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2016)