Central Conference Calls for Further Rural Economic Structure Readjustments

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, January 08, 2002

Central Conference Calls for Further Rural Economic Structure Readjustments

A two-day central conference on rural work was concluded Monday in Beijing, with a call to continue firmly pushing forward strategic readjustments to agriculture and the rural economic structure.

It called for the improvement of quality and efficiency in agriculture and the boosting of sustained and steady growth in farmers' incomes.

Participants of the meeting analyzed the current situation in rural areas and worked out arrangements for agriculture and rural work in 2002.

At the meeting, the participants discussed the "Proposals on Agriculture and Rural Work in 2002" by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council.

Vice-Premier delivered a report

Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a four-part report entitled "Exert Great Efforts to Push Forward Strategic Readjustments to Agriculture and the Rural Economic Structure, With Increasing Farmers' Income as the Basic Goal".

Current situation in rural areas

Thanks to efforts made by different localities and departments to implement the central policies and stimulate the enthusiasm of farmers, China made new progress in its agriculture and rural economy in 2001, by fighting severe droughts, witnessing an increase in farmers' incomes, and achieving social stability in the countryside.

Proposals on agriculture and rural work in 2002

This year, the first year after China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), the agricultural sector could be affected to a relatively large degree, making it even more difficult to ensure growth in farmers' incomes.

The meeting called for great priority in the issue of farmers' incomes as it affects the whole of the national economy.

It called for new thinking of ways to help farmers increase their incomes, such as speeding up the building of infrastructure and carrying out tax reforms in the countryside. It is a long-termand step-by-step task to increase farmers' incomes, it stressed.

Areas in the eastern and central parts of the country should make great efforts to develop hi-tech farming and to produce high-value and export-oriented farm produce, while the coastal areas should take the lead in modernizing agriculture, according to the conference.

Farmers should produce more organic produce, while village-based industries should also be further developed, it said.

Meanwhile, China should find a way to urbanize its countryside,by restructuring the rural economy, speeding up the relocation of rural laborers, and broadening the channels by which farmers can increase their incomes, the meeting said.

It called for increasing investment in the countryside's educational sector to ensure the normal operation of rural schools.Efforts should also be made to improve medical systems in rural areas to improve medical services for villagers, it noted.

According to the conference, the WTO entry will be beneficial to China's agricultural development and reforms in the long-term as it will help to promote the export of farm products, increase the international competitiveness of China's farm products, introduce advanced foreign technology and experience in the agricultural fields, help set up a market system for farm products,improve the government support system for local farmers, and boostfarming reforms and the restructuring of the country's foreign trade system.

But it warned that in the near future, there could be a strong impact on the country's farming sector. If the problems affecting agriculture cannot be properly solved, agricultural production andthe efforts to increase farmers' incomes will be affected, it said.

China Sets Targets for Rural Work in 2002

China has set as one of its most important tasks in 2002 the vigorous adjustment of the agricultural structure in a move to increase the income of farmers.

The Central Economic Working Conference, held from November 27 to 29, defined the readjustment of agricultural structure, deepening of rural reform and increasing farmers' income as major goals for 2002.

The conference said that to further change agricultural and rural economic set-ups is an important way for improving agricultural efficiency and boosting farmers' income. It is imperative to develop quality and special farm produce and expand animal husbandry into a more profitable industry as soon as possible. full text

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