China to release national rural vitalization strategic program

BEIJING -- China will release a national rural vitalization strategic program (2018-2022) to implement policies under the "No 1 central document" this year.

"The first draft of the program has been completed and submitted for approval," Wu Hongyao, deputy director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, told a press briefing on Monday.

The program is dedicated to guiding local governments and related departments to promote rural vitalization in a practical and orderly manner, said Wu.

The "No 1 central document" is the name traditionally given to the first policy statement of the year released by the central authorities, and is seen as an indicator of policy priorities.

This year, the "No 1 central document" released on Sunday had rural vitalization as its theme.

By vitalizing its vast rural regions, China expects to see a strong agricultural sector, a beautiful countryside and well-off farmers, said the "No 1 central document."