Further improvements to the ongoing reform in China's rural area were demanded in a decision issued Tuesday by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

As the core of the fundamental system for management in the countryside, the household-based land contract system should be kept stable and the rights of farmers on land management should be safeguarded, according to the decision.

Within the term of the contract, rural households have the right to sell their farmland management rights in accordance with law and at their own will. The regulations on the circulation of farmland should be improved, while large-scale farming should be developed step by step in a proper manner.

The most strict system of protecting cultivated land must be adopted to ensure national grain security. Under the principles of protecting farmers' rights and interests and controlling the amount of land turned to other uses by the government, China will reform its land-use system and improve procedures on land use.

The rural product marketing system should be improved, through changing indirect subsidies for farmers to direct subsidies during the circulation, so as to protect farmers' interests.

Investments in agriculture should be increased by the financial departments at all levels and the newly-added expenditure on education, sanitation and culture should be mainly used in rural areas.

The state will exert greater efforts to deepen rural tax reform and reduce the financial burden on farmers substantially. Policies related to tax reform will be improved in nationwide experimental units.

Great efforts should also be made to develop the county-based economy, accelerate the pace of urbanization, unify urban and rural labor markets step by step and create a system for equal employment of urban and rural laborers, so as to create more job opportunities for farmers.

Training programs for rural laborers should be established and improved by the governments at all levels and all limiting regulations on employment of migrant workers in cities should be canceled.

The decision, outlining the major tasks to further improve the market economy to build a well-off society in the country, was approved at the Third Plenary Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee, which was held from Oct. 11 to 14.

Close

Today's Top News		Top National News
+China launches satellite developed with Brazil ( 2003-10-21) +Decision on improvement of socialist market economic system issued ( 2003-10-21) +The next great leap after Shenzhou V ( 2003-10-21) +Hu calls for balanced development ( 2003-10-21) +Report: SARS not airborne virus ( 2003-10-21)		+CPC asks to consolidate public sector, vigorously promote private economy ( 2003-10-21) +China hopes parties concerned continue six-party talks ( 2003-10-21) +Chinese farmer invents new type of sowing machine ( 2003-10-21) +Flood alert system set for China's biggest freshwater lake ( 2003-10-21) +Major corruption cases increase slightly ( 2003-10-21)