The lack of talent, unfair financial levies, sluggish markets and discrimination in obtaining bank loans suffered by rural township enterprises have hindered the development of China's rural economy which has progressed tremendously since 1978.

　 The quality of the workforce of township enterprises, the " secret weapon" in the rapid development of rural industries, is too low to meet the requirements for upgrading manufacturing technology, the Business Weekly reported today, quoting Minister of Agriculture Chen Yaobang as saying.

　 Only 10 percent of the employees of township enterprises have received college education, experts at the ministry said.

　 At present, the number of rural surplus laborers is huge, totaling about 200 million, and most of them are poorly educated.

　 In a bid to step up the development of the rural economy, China will provide more access to its rural markets to increase the inflow of foreign investment, according to Tang Zhengping, director-general of the Department of International Co-operation of the Ministry of Agriculture.

　 China needs a net foreign investment of 225.6 billion US dollars (at 1995 price) between 1996 and 2010, he said.

　 Robust domestic demand for organic food and quality packaging is creating opportunities for foreign investors in the countryside.

　 Tang was confident of prospects for foreign investment especially if China enters the World Trade Organization (WTO).

　 Under the guidance of a market-oriented mechanism, rural economic reform will follow global economic development, thus creating a favorable environment for foreign investors, he said.

　 The central government will adopt preferential policies for the development of rural infrastructure to pave the way for the development of foreign-funded joint ventures in rural areas, he said.

　 Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture is encouraging township enterprises to consider opportunities for setting up factories in co-operation with foreign partners.

　 It China becomes a member of the WTO, economists predict the country's agricultural markets, such as grain, cotton, vegetable oils and wool, will have to compete with foreign products in the domestic market.

　 But China's entry to the WTO will also promote sales of Chinese fruits, aquatic products and meat on the world market, Tang said. (Xinhua)