 |
|
| Rural economy key to nation's goal |
| CCTV.COM 2002-11-13 14:11:43 |
|
The level of Chinese farmers' incomes is considered to be a reliable gauge of how well off the country is as a whole. For this reason, how to increase this level has been talked about in group discussions of CPC delegates from east China's Anhui Province.
As a major agricultural province, Anhui was the first to carry out a rural fee－to－tax reform.
CPC delegates said two years' practice has eased farmers' burdens and protected their interests.
The rural population in Anhui is about 70 percent of its total. Naturally farmers are going to be talked about.
The delegates endorsed General Secretary Jiang Zemin's report on strengthening the position of agriculture as the foundation of the economy and keeping stable rural policies.
Wang Guocai, CPC delegate from Anhui Province, said: "In recent years, arable land has all been leased to farmers. We have also changed administrative charges into taxes. The continuity of rural policies has spurred on farmers' enthusiasm and boosted the rural economy. How to keep basic policies stable has been written into Jiang Zemin's report. I think this will promote rural development even more."
Anhui Province's rural fee－to－tax reform was a major step towards increasing farmers' incomes.
Farmers in China pay both taxes and fees to governments at different levels, with the fees making up about three quarters. But fees are subject to inconsistent rules and local government's often overcharges.
The reforms slashed the fees while moderately raising tax rates. In Anhui, the move has had a big impact.
Farmer Tao Laigen said: "Before the tax reform, I had to pay more than 200 yuan per mu. But now I pay less than 100. That's a reduction of more than a half."
Wang Lizhu, CPC delegate from the Anhui Agriculture Committee, said: "After two years' reform, farmers' burdens are now down by around 30 percent. Local farmers all welcome it."
The local government is also trying structural reforms to improve agricultural development, focusing on high－quality agricultural produce and organic food as well as equipment manufacturing.
The country's goal of a comprehensive well－off society has been made clear. But for rural areas to catch up with the pace of modernization will be a daunting task for a country with a rural population of 900 million.
|
|
Editor: Xiao Wei CCTV.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
