China should firmly push forward opening-up and reform and protect farmers' rights to vote, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during a visit to Guangdong, a southern province that took the lead in China's opening-up and reform, from Friday to Saturday.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao smiles during an informal discussion with local farmers as he visits Shuili Village in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Feb. 4, 2012. Premier Wen made a visit to Guangdong, a southern province that took the lead in China's opening-up and reform, from Friday to Saturday on an inspection tour.

At a time of global uncertainties, furthering reform is still the only key to solving all problems, said Wen.

"Opening-up and reform should be implemented unswervingly, or there will only be a dead end," he said, citing former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who made a famous speech during his inspection tour of south China 20 years ago.

Wen highlighted the need to ensure farmers' voting rights and the direct election of village-level leadership, which he labeled an important task for local authorities.

He said self-governance is the only appropriate way for improving rural community administration, noting that local affairs should be decided by local villagers.

Wen also called for more efforts to ensure farmers' rights in land. Land as property of the farmers "have not been fully protected," he said.

Unauthorized expropriation of farmland has been a common problem, causing many complaints and even mass disturbances.

Illegal land grabs caused mass protests in China last year. A dispute over land use, financing and elections in Wukan village in the southern province of Guangdong led to large-scale protests by villagers against local authorities.

The premier's trip to the southern province aimed to solicit opinions and feedback on government work ahead of the two annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which are typically held in March.