The?Ministry of Land and Resources (MLR) said on Tuesday that it has issued a circular with 10 other authorities to step up land use?planning and management after the country unveiled measures to stimulate domestic demand.

Local authorities should protect the arable land and farmers' legitimate interests in handling land use applications of new projects, according to the circular.

Xu Shaoshi, head of the MLR, said the economic crisis has added difficulty to the country's land management work, as the central and local governments' investment programs have demand for more land.

The MLR shouldered a mounting responsibility of combating malpractice in land use, Xu said.

Chinese government unveiled a 4 trillion yuan (US$584 billion) economic stimulus package last month to stimulate economic growth and domestic demand.

The fund is to be spent over the next two years to finance programs in 10 major areas, such as low-income housing, rural infrastructure, water, electricity, transport, the environment and technological innovation.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2008)