China targets rural issues in central document

The Chinese authorities Thursday issued its first policy document for 2013, highlighting the significance of developing modern agriculture to strengthen the vitality of rural areas.

The first policy document, issued by the central committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, the Cabinet, is the No. 1 central document. This is the tenth consecutive year the document has focused on rural problems.

The nine former documents were as follows:

--- The No. 1 central document issued on Feb.1, 2012, took "accelerating the scientific and technological innovation to strengthen supply of agricultural products" as its theme.

The document underscored the role technology plays in ensuring sustained agricultural growth and effective supply of agricultural products.

China should promote industrialization, urbanization and agricultural modernization simultaneously, and roll out more policies to strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers, and enrich rural areas. It should work hard to yield a good harvest, increase farmers' incomes and maintain the social harmony and stability in rural areas, the document said.

--- The No. 1 central document issued on Jan. 29, 2011, took "accelerating development of water conservancy" as its theme.

The document set a target of improving the country's underdeveloped water conservancy works over the next five to 10 years. It said the government will double average annual spending on water conservancy over the next 10 years from that of 2010.