The country concluded its annual central rural work conference yesterday. There, officials pledged to enhance rural infrastructure construction, promote stable agricultural development and facilitate sustained income growth for farmers next year.
Officials at the two-day meeting said the pledge should begin next year, in line with the integration of urban and rural economic and social development.
Efforts should be made to ensure the supply of major agricultural products, improve people's livelihood in rural areas and promote the "new countryside" scheme, officials said.
Six areas were identified for the above aims:
First, policies benefiting farmers should be improved and investment in agriculture and rural areas should be increased substantially.
Second, basic supply of major agricultural products should be guaranteed and farmers' incomes should be increased.
Third, agricultural infrastructure construction should be secured and conditions for enhancing agricultural production should be improved at a quicker pace.
Fourth, technical progress for agriculture and related sectors should be implemented. Social services for villagers should be expanded in rural areas.
Fifth, social undertakings in rural areas should be boosted, while rural infrastructure should be reinforced.
And finally, basic rural operations should be stabilized and rural reforms should be deepened.
China has held a central rural work conference every year since the 1980s to lay down priorities for agriculture and rural areas.
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Jonathan Stewart is a media and journalism expert from the United States with four years of experience as a writer and instructor. He accepted a foreign expert position with chinadaily.com.cn in June 2007 following the completion of his Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Comparative Politics.
