BEIJING (Xinhua) – The annual central rural work conference held in Beijing, China from Tuesday to Wednesday outlined the key priorities for rural work in 2024.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, provided crucial instructions emphasizing the importance of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers in the country’s modernization efforts.
Reflecting on 2023, President Xi highlighted China’s resilience in overcoming severe natural disasters and adverse conditions, achieving a new record in grain output, ensuring a rapid increase in farmers’ income, and maintaining harmony and stability in rural areas.
To further advance Chinese modernization, President Xi stressed the need for continuous efforts to strengthen the foundation of the agricultural sector and promote rural revitalization comprehensively.
Drawing inspiration from the successful Green Rural Revival Program, President Xi urged the implementation of specific policies tailored to actual conditions.
He emphasized the importance of steady, incremental progress to achieve tangible results benefiting the people.
Safeguarding food security was highlighted as a priority, emphasizing the stabilization of land acreage for grain production, increased yields, and the establishment of a diversified food supply system.
Improving the quality of arable land was also emphasized.
President Xi underscored the importance of injecting momentum into agricultural modernization by strengthening the driving forces of science, technology, and reform.
Efforts to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies and improve work mechanisms for agriculture, rural areas, and farmers were emphasized.
Disaster prevention, reduction, and relief capabilities were highlighted to avoid large-scale relapses into poverty after disasters.
The conference also discussed draft guidelines on learning and applying the experience of the Green Rural Revival Program to advance rural revitalization.
Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the conference, emphasizing the importance of utilizing development philosophies, procedures, and mechanisms from the Green Rural Revival Program.
Key aspects highlighted in the conference included the production of grain and major agricultural products to ensure a grain output above 650 billion kg in 2024.
Efforts to enhance farmland protection and development, support agricultural science and technology innovation, increase farmers’ income, and address weak links in rural infrastructure were also emphasized.
The conference encouraged reform, innovation, and practical exploration at the local level to promote institutional innovation in rural areas.
The focus remains on issues crucial to farmers and driving substantive progress in rural revitalization.
