BEIJING, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China will increase investment in education in poverty-stricken areas and on weak links in the sector, take measures to boost its dairy industry, and give priority to developing service trade, according to a State Council statement.

The central government will add 13 billion yuan (about 2 billion U.S. dollars) of funding to support compulsory and vocational education in central and western regions, poverty-stricken and rural areas, according to the statement released after a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang Wednesday.

The country will strengthen finance, insurance, and land support for the dairy industry.

The State Council required 17 regions including Beijing to deepen the pilot program to promote innovative development of service trade.