Guideline details measures to boost distribution of agricultural produce

A number of ministry-level departments, including those responsible for national development and reform, finance, and commerce, have responded recently to issues of public concern.

Power cheaper for food storage in rural areas

China will adopt a series of measures to support enterprises, including private ones, as part of efforts to promote the development of the fresh agricultural produce distribution industry, according to a guideline published on June 8.

The guideline, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and 11 other ministries, included 12 policies and measures covering five aspects of the industry.

To reduce enterprises' operating costs, electricity prices will be lowered for power used to operate food preservation and storage equipment built in rural areas by family farms, agricultural cooperatives and related companies, the guideline said.

Banking institutions will be encouraged to provide loans to all kinds of companies, including privately owned ones, to allow them to invest in the building or expanding of key infrastructure used for distributing agricultural produce, it said.

The guideline also said local authorities should regard the construction of fresh agricultural produce distribution facilities as important projects related to people's livelihoods and provide government support in building supporting facilities.

Rust-belt cities' industrial heritage protected

China will beef up efforts to protect and make use of industrial heritage in old industrial cities to facilitate urban renovation and explore a new path for their transformation and development, according to a notice published on June 9.

The National Development and Reform Commission and four other ministries have jointly issued an implementation plan that outlined several key tasks for turning rust-belt cities into livable ones, the notice said.

The plan said a mechanism to investigate, evaluate and recognize different levels of industrial heritage will be set up in order to protect and effectively make use of it.

Cities with industrial heritage will be encouraged to build national cultural relic protection demonstration areas and establish museums focused on industrial heritage or traditional industry, it said.

It also called for efforts to renovate industrial heritage sites and transform them into urban cultural parks open to the public.

Minister urges more supervision of funding

Central government funds given to primary-level governments should be used for the benefit of all companies, especially small firms, Minister of Finance Liu Kun said on June 8.

The funds should also benefit people reliant on social security schemes, subsistence allowances, unemployment benefits, old-age support and those living in difficulty, he said at a meeting in Beijing.

Liu urged the early establishment of a mechanism to advance the implementation of related fiscal and taxation measures.

Financial departments at all levels should deliver the funds to areas experiencing financial difficulty, he said.

He also noted that supervision and monitoring of the funds should be strengthened to avoid any tardiness or embezzlement.

Domestic work's poverty alleviation role bolstered

The Ministry of Commerce and nine other ministries have jointly introduced more than 20 measures to give full play to the domestic service industry's contribution to the country's poverty alleviation efforts, according to a notice published on Wednesday.

It said various programs, including a campaign to promote migrant workers' vocational skills, will be offered to train poor people for employment in the domestic services sector, and that basic training courses for those willing to work in the sector should be guaranteed.

Domestic service companies that offer preferential recruitment to the impoverished will be able to receive one-time subsidies from local governments, and people who left home to work in the sector during the COVID-19 epidemic will be able to receive subsidies for travel and living expenses, it said.