The Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the
State Council concluded the annual central rural work conference on
Sunday, and decided on a slew of key tasks in the country's rural
development in the coming year.
Rural development remained the hardcore of the government's
major tasks in 2008, the two-day conference was told. Following are
the key resolutions reached during the meeting:
-- China would enhance rural infrastructure construction,
promote stable development of agriculture and facilitate a
sustained income growth for farmers next year.
-- The government would continue to draw up preferential
policies to build up the strength of the agriculture sector and
benefit the farmers. Investment into the agricultural sector and
the rural areas would be boosted "by a large margin."
-- Investment into the agricultural sector from the fiscal
revenue would be raised to "a markedly higher level than a year
earlier". Fixed assets investment into the rural areas would be
elevated again to "a markedly higher level than last year".
-- Direct subsidies for farmers would be raised, as well as that
for major grain production regions. Investment into the
animal-borne disease control efforts would be increased.
-- The government would give a prominence to agricultural
infrastructure construction next year in order to improve
production facilities in rural areas. They include the construction
of irrigation facilities and reinforcement work for old and
hazardous reservoirs.
-- It pledges more efforts to promote the use of machines in
agricultural production. The government will also continue to boost
education and medicare services in rural areas.
-- The minimum subsistence allowances would be expanded to cover
more rural population, and poverty reduction would get more support
from the government.
-- The government would invest more to improve rural
infrastructure facilities, such as safe water supply, power grid
projects and public transport system.
-- The country vowed to safeguard the land use right of farmers
and asked for stricter rules for land confiscation.
-- The country would improve financial services in rural
areas.
(Xinhua News Agency December 24, 2007)