China's central government has invested 2.84 billion yuan in development of scientific equipment since 2011, said a senior official in a forum here Tuesday.

In 2013 alone, the government has spent 1.04 billion yuan.

The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance set up a special fund for the development of major scientific instruments and equipment in 2011.

"The quality of major scientific instruments and equipment is an important indicator of a country's innovation ability and comprehensive national power," said the official from the Ministry of Finance.

The special fund will help transform scientific achievement into productivity, he added.