China's central authorities released Tuesday its first majordocument of the year which calls for the construction of a "newsocialist countryside" as the foremost task facing China in the2006-2010 five-year period.

The document embraces a set of ideas set forth by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council. It'sthe third consecutive time since 2004 that agriculture, farmers andcountryside development have been the first document of the centralauthorities, showing the government's determination to solveproblems in rural areas.

The document said the next fives years will be key to laying asolid foundation for the new socialist countryside construction.Its aim is to boost modern agriculture, develop new relationshipsbetween industry and agriculture, cities and countryside, andincreases rural affluence.

The ideas set forth by the central authorities listed eightpolicy priorities to promote the reconstruction of thecountryside:

-- Plan economic, social development in urban, rural areas as awhole, and firmly promote construction of the new countryside;

-- Boost modern agriculture to consolidate industrial support tothe new countryside construction;

-- Ensure sustained increases of farmers' income to lay a solidrural economic foundation;

-- Increase infrastructure construction in rural areas toimprove rural material conditions;

-- Accelerate development of public services in the countryside and encourage new farmers;

-- Deepen comprehensive rural reform to guarantee systematicprotection for rural people;

-- Improve democracy in rural areas and perfect ruralmanagement;

-- Enhance leadership and motivate all party members and theentire society to care, support and participate in the constructionof a new countryside.

"Constructing a new socialist countryside is an importanthistoric task in the process of China's modernization," said thedocument.

With more than 800 million people living in the countryside, theonly way to ensure sustainable development of the national economyand continuous expansion of domestic demand is to develop the ruraleconomy and help farmers to become more affluent, it said.

The document also stressed that construction of the newcountryside should focus on practical development and involvedemocratic consultations.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2006)