Chen Wenjun:
As time is limited, we will take one more question.
China National Radio (CNR):
Rural vitalization efforts have been carried out in China for some time. At the beginning of this century, China put forward the idea of building a beautiful countryside. The country put forward the strategy for rural revitalization in 2017 and introduced the National Rural Vitalization Strategic Plan in 2018. In 2020, rural vitalization centered on both the central rural work conference and proposals for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). My question is, how the form, content and targets of the rural vitalization strategy has evolved over the years? Thank you.
Tang Renjian:
This is a good question. Rural vitalization is not a new concept. It was first introduced during the 19th CPC National Congress and has been making steady progress over the past few years. However, we formerly focused our efforts on poverty alleviation. What's different now is that we now highlight the all-round vitalization of the rural areas. After the strategy was introduced in the 19th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee and State Council formulated a guideline which charted a strategic roadmap for rural vitalization. Shortly, the National Rural Vitalization Strategic Plan was published, outlining the targets and policy framework for the ensuing five years. Moreover, the CPC Central Committee also published a regulation on rural work, a major document that systematically specifies the CPC's all-round leadership on rural work, aiming to transform the political advantage of the Party's leadership to impetus in the cause of advancing rural revitalization. Currently, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is reviewing a draft law on promoting rural vitalization, which will offer a fundamental institutional guarantee for making further progress in the strategy. We also established a series of special policies focusing on rural industries, rural governance, social etiquette and civility, and urban-rural integration development. Generally speaking, multiple institutional framework and basic policies for rural revitalization have been established and various valuable explorations are seen in different regions around China.
As we enter a new development stage, our priority in rural work has been shifted to comprehensive advancement of rural vitalization. It's time for full-fledged efforts. The central rural work conference last year and this year's No.1 central document have further mobilized efforts and mapped out plans to boost rural revitalization. Many of the questions we answered just now are related to the all-round approach for rural vitalization. To put it simply, we aim to adopt more forceful measures and mobilize stronger efforts to boost the strategy. You may find three changes: we have evolved from top-level planning to all-round implementation of specific measures; from explorations and pilot programs to a country-wide campaign; from focusing on key areas to comprehensively covering our efforts in vitalizing industry, talent, culture, the environment, and organizational structures in rural areas. Through all-round efforts, we will improve areas of weakness in modernization of agriculture and rural areas and make sure that the development of agriculture and rural areas won't fall behind our overall national modernization effort. This is how the concept of rural revitalization has evolved through the years. Thank you.
Chen Wenjun:
Thank you, Mr. Tang and other speakers today. Thanks to the friends from the media. This is the end of today's press conference. Goodbye.
Translated and edited by Zhang Rui, Liu Qiang, Lin Liyao, Li Huiru, Xiang Bin, Zhang Liying, Xu Xiaoxuan, Zhu Bochen, Fan Junmei, Wang Qian, Li Xiao, Wang Wei, Wang Yiming, Yang Xi, Guo Yiming, Cui Can, Zhang Junmian, David Ball, Jay Birbeck, Geoffrey Murray, and Tom Arnstein. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
