Chen Wenjun:

The last question, please.

CRNTT:

The development of industries is a top priority on the agenda of rural revitalization. What are your considerations concerning implementing supportive policies in this regard and enabling the industry of local specialties to advance rural revitalization? Thank you.

Tang Renjian:

Just now, there was a question about increasing the income of farmers, behind which the most important support is actually the development of industries. General Secretary Xi Jinping has made it clear that the development of industries is the most important on the agenda of rural revitalization, and it tops the “five priorities” of rural revitalization. He also made clear requirements that particular attention should be paid to local specialties at the Central Rural Work Conference held last year end. In this year’s No. 1 central document, specific arrangements have been made concerning the high-quality development of rural industries. Priorities will be given to the following four aspects.

First, we will work on promoting specialties. The development of rural industries depends on making good use of local resources. That is their specialty: diversified agricultural and sideline products, beautiful countryside sceneries, and traditional culture that values farming and education. All of these are attractive features of the countryside and provide unique conditions for the development of rural industries. We should accommodate changes in the market demand and make full use of the special resources of agriculture and rural areas to develop a variety of agricultural functions and multiple types of value in rural areas. We will make breakthroughs in the development of industries in accordance with the local conditions and turn the advantages in resources, eco-environment, and culture into advantages in products and industries to strengthen competitiveness and capacity for sustainable development. 

Second, we will work to promote industrial integration. We will focus on giving full play to the role of the multiplier effect brought about by the three industrial integrations, which we are all familiar with, and work to develop leading enterprises, strengthen weak links, boost all forms of business, and establish self-developed brands. We will break barriers between the production, processing, and sale of agricultural products and develop agricultural products processing and distribution industries. We will foster industries for precooked dishes and improve the standardization of industries for fresh-cut vegetables and the central production kitchen. We will also promote the local conversion and processing of agricultural products and promote transformation from selling raw materials to processed products. We will promote the integration of agricultural, cultural, and tourism industries and accelerate the modern rural service industry, meeting the consumption needs of urban and rural residents. The intermediary services in the new collective economies in the rural areas we just mentioned also refer to that. We will encourage the development of shopping, culture, sport, tourism, elderly care, and child care along with information intermediaries and other daily life services and promote the transformation from selling products to selling both products and services. We just talked about the transformation from selling raw materials to processed products. This is the transformation from selling products to selling both products and services.

Third, we will optimize the layout. We will foster and develop county-level industries that benefit the people. We will prioritize the construction of industrial parks and zones and improve the layout of industries at the county, township, and village levels. We will take the whole county into consideration when making development plans and make a reasonable layout of production, processing, sales, consumption, and other sectors. We will work to improve the carrying capacity and supporting services of county-level industries and give better play to the role of major towns in attracting people. We will guide agricultural product processing enterprises to locate in product origin centers and industrial parks. With all these efforts, we will build industrial clusters that connect urban and rural areas.

Fourth, we will work on connecting and leading farmers. The above-mentioned three measures will make little sense if without doing a good job in connecting and leading farmers. We will guide enterprises to make full use of their advantages and to develop themselves in the process of leading and serving farmers. We will improve the mechanism from which farmers can benefit from a closer integration into agricultural industrial chains, and accelerating the development of the pattern featuring mutual complementarity and division of labor between enterprises and farmers, so as to leave more benefits to farmers as industries produce more value. Moreover, we will improve guidance for nongovernmental businesses to invest in agriculture and rural areas. While encouragement and guidance will be provided, whole-process supervision will also be carried out concerning the introduction, use, and exit of nongovernmental businesses. By doing so, farmers can gain benefits to the greatest extent, and their interests will be safeguarded. Thank you.

Chen Wenjun:

Thanks to all the speakers and friends from the media. Today’s briefing is hereby concluded. See you!

Translated and edited by Zhang Liying, Wang Qian, Zhu Bochen, Liu Sitong, Zhang Rui, Yang Xi, Yan Bin, Yuan Fang, Qin Qi, Cui Can, Zhou Jing, Yan Xiaoqing, Li Xiao, Ma Yujia, Wang Yiming, Zhang Junmian, Xu Kailin, Li Huiru, David Ball, Tom Arnsten, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.