Vice Premier Urges Care for FarmersLooking after the rural population is important for consolidating the alliance between workers and farmers, reducing the gap between urban and rural life and safeguarding social stability in the countryside.Vice Premier Wen Jiabao made the remarks during his tour in Hebei from November 14-16 to inspect local efforts in relieving local people who have been affected by lingering droughts in the northern Chinese province. With the assistance of the central government, local authorities have succeeded in minimizing the losses and maintaining a stable social order in the affected areas, according to local official sources. In his three-day trip, the vice premier visited local families and heard reports on the relief activities of local officials. Wen urged local governments to work hard to help farmers explore ways of earning money, relieve them of heavy financial loads and to make greater efforts in poverty alleviation. Grassroots officials in the countryside must be educated so that they can better implement central policies, the official said. Officials should go among the people and hear their voice and opinions so as to ensure rural development and stability, he noted. |
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