Chinese authorities on Wednesday commended 130 units, including performance groups, cultural centers and administrators, for their efforts to enrich the lives of farmers.

"While the country is doing a lot to promote rural economic growth, there's also a need to boost social development in rural areas," said Liu Yunshan, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at the commendation conference.

He said more than 20 years of experience has shown that to advance agricultural development, rural progress and living standards of the farmers, cultural support projects are "inseparable".

The farmers also have a desire for civilized and healthy life styles with the improvement of their economic conditions, Liu said.

He called on relevant parties to fully realize the extreme importance and urgency of strengthening cultural work in the rural areas and make concrete efforts to promote synchronous cultural, economic, political and social progress in these areas.

Liu said that priority should be given in the construction of cultural facilities in the rural areas.

Representatives of the commended units attended the conference, jointly sponsored by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Ministry of Culture.

Lack of healthy cultural activities in the rural areas will leave the farmers vulnerable to the influence of pernicious elements, the Chinese scholars advised.

The pastimes of Chinese farmers used to be limited to mainly watching TV, playing cards or chatting with fellow villagers. In recent years, however, the growing availability of the Internet, video discs and telephones have brought much pornographic content to farming communities.

Pornography and gambling also have found a market in some rural areas.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2005)