Boosting rural development

cctv.com 02-22-2006 07:45

A State Council press conference, held this morning, has outlined the background and specific targets for boosting rural development in China over the next five years. Earlier on Tuesday, the country's central authorities released a new policy document, putting the construction of a new socialist countryside as the foremost task facing the country between 2006 and 2010.

Chen Xiwen, a State Council official on agriculture, revealed the background behind the goal of constructing a new socialist countryside. The concept has been around for the past 20 years, since China's reform and opening-up started. But it was only initially put forth as a practical and imperative task at a plenary session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, last October.

Chen said with financial resources mainly coming from the agriculture sector during the past decades, China's farmers have made significant contributions to the nation's modernization.

He said with a strengthened economy, it is time for agriculture and rural development to be contributed.

Chen said: "Through analysis of the overall economic situation, the leadership of our party has clearly put forward that China has entered a period which requires the industrial sector to support the agricultural sector, and cities to support the countryside. This judgment has laid an important and practical basis for constructing a new socialist countryside."

Chen said narrowing the widening gap between cities and rural areas will become a major target. Efforts will not only be made to reduce income inequality, but also provide farmers with greater access to public services in areas such as education, medication and culture.

More affluent farmers will also help expand domestic demand, a key factor behind sustainable economic growth.

The central authorities' document sets out 32 measures that will benefit farmers, including promoting modern agriculture, improving rural infrastructure and increasing the incomes of farmers.

Editor:Wang Ping  Source:CCTV.com