China strengthens fundamental role of agriculture ( 2003-11-30 10:14) (Xinhua) The three-day Central
Economic Work Conference which ended Saturday stressed that the fundamental role
of agriculture should always be upheld with more efforts to be made in
protecting farmland and raising farmers' income.
The annual conference, held in Beijing and addressed by Chinese President Hu
Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, mapped out guidelines for the nation's economic
development in 2004.
"It has been a consistent strategy of the Chinese leadership for the last
three generations to strengthen the fundamental role of agriculture and pay
close attention to and conscientiously resolve the issues relating to
agriculture, rural development and rural population," the meeting said, noting
that the strategy must be carried on unswervingly.
In an effort to ensure the fundamental role of agriculture, great importance
must be attached to protecting farmland, increasing grain production,
safeguarding the interests of grain production areas and farmers, and raising
farmers' income.
"Resolute efforts must be made to stop illegal occupation of farmland for
non-agricultural uses," according to the meeting, which also stressed that
agricultural structure should be readjusted and optimized, the achievements of
returning farmland to woodland should be consolidated so as to better plan
agricultural production in different regions.
More government input should be made in agricultural infrastructure,
especially in major grain production areas, to improve the farming and living
conditions of farmers, the meeting said.
More efforts should be made for the spread of agricultural technologies, so
as to upgrade the volume and quality of farm produce and promote the
competitiveness of farm products, it said.
Reforms should be deepened on rural tax system and farm product circulation
system to relieve the heavy burdens on farmers. At the same time poverty
alleviation mechanism should be further improved, the meeting said.
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