Ministry supports rural startups

Agricultural authorities in China will take more measures to encourage people to start up businesses in rural areas to promote social and economic development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said on Friday.

"The key to carrying out the rural rejuvenation strategy lies in talent," Zong Jinyao, chief for agricultural product processing at the ministry, said at a news conference. "We should promote entrepreneurship while carrying out the strategy and establish a favorable environment for business in rural areas."

The strategy, put forward by China's top leadership last year, aimed to balance development between rural and urban areas to achieve modernization across the whole country.