CCTV Agricultural Rural Channel:

My question is about rural residential land. After some farmers move to the city, their rural residential land becomes inefficiently used as its residential function is less prominent. This is essentially a waste of land resources. Given that the "No.1 Central Document" noted that farmers settling in the city should be ensured the right to use their rural residential land, how can we revitalize this rural residential land while ensuring their right to use?

Wu Hongyao: 

In recent years, the central government has published a series of policies to strengthen the management of rural residential land in accordance with the law, and in general to advance the reform of the system of rural residential land in a steady and prudent manner and effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests of farmers. Last year, the Office of the Central Leading Group for Rural Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in collaboration with relevant departments, launched a new round of trial reforms on the system of rural residential land in 104 counties and three prefectural-level cities across China. The core of the pilot scheme is to explore forms of separation of ownership, eligibility and use rights on rural residential land. The trial reform prioritizes protecting the land rights and interests of farmers who have registered as urban residents. . We are exploring mechanisms to safeguard farmers' eligibility, and at the same time, increase the property income of farmers via transfer, mortgaging, voluntary paid withdrawal and paid-use of their land usage rights. 

The reform of rural residential land is in the vital interest of all farmers, and is a sensitive and complex issue. We must act on the requirements of the central government and be patient in dealing with the issue. We should strictly keep the three bottom lines: never change public ownership of land, ensure that China's arable land remains at or above the red line, and fully protect farmers' interests. At the same time, we should make it clear that it's forbidden for urban residents to build villas and private clubs on rural residential land. It's also forbidden to force famers to give up their homesteads and move into apartment blocks. We should always make sure that reform is moving forward in the right direction. Thanks.