China's accession to the WTO has brought about both challenges and opportunities to the agricultural sector of the country, Zhang said, adding to take the opportunities and meet the challenges, the key is to improve the competitiveness of China's agriculture.

Zhang noted that his ministry has worked out six plans for agricultural development, covering production of quality grain, animal husbandry, horticulture, processing of farm produce, fishery and state farms, Zhang told a press conference of the ongoing Fifth Session of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Zhang, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC, said that the aim of these plans is to boost agricultural industries with development advantages so as to improve the competitiveness of China's agriculture and farm produce on the international market in an all-round way.

At the same time, China will also carry out agricultural restructuring, rejuvenating agriculture with science and education, boosting production of competitive farm produce and development of competitive agricultural industries.

( March 7, 2002)