BEIJING - China's central government budgeted 5.92 billion yuan (about $914.92 million) for vehicle purchases and maintenance in 2011, the Ministry of Finance said Friday.

The figure is 250 million yuan less than the central government spent on the same items last year, the ministry said in an online statement.

Due to an increase in diplomatic activities and international exchanges, the budget for overseas trips has been set at 1.99 billion yuan this year, an increase over the 1.77 billion yuan spent in 2010, the statement said.

The official reception budget was reduced to 1.52 billion yuan for 2011, a slight increase over the 1.53 billion yuan spent last year, the statement added.

The central government started publicizing its budgets for vehicle purchases and maintenance, overseas trips and official receptions this year as part of its efforts to improve transparency.

Central government expenditures on the three items, referred to by some as the "three public consumptions," have long been viewed as the main source of government corruption and waste.

Spending on the "three public consumptions" totaled 9.47 billion yuan last year, the ministry said Monday.