Land transfer may draw 'heated debate'

A recent landmark policy that allows rural land-use right transfers between farmers is expected to stir a heated debate at the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) meetings this week, experts said yesterday.

The central government last October gave farmers the right to transfer their land-use rights at free will for the first time since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

While many experts have welcomed the move, which aims to push forward rural development, several others have expressed their concern.