Promise of increased funds for rural areas

The government is working on a mechanism to improve rural infrastructure as part of efforts to boost agricultural development and close the wealth gap between urban and rural areas, an official said yesterday.

Chen Xiwen, director of the office of the Central Leading Group on Rural Work, told a press conference that China will "considerably increase" investment in the countryside to seek coordinated development of the urban and rural economies.

The central government will expand its agricultural budget and channel revenue from land-use charges and arable land occupation tax to rural areas, he said.