SCIO briefing on promoting high-quality development: Ministry of Natural Resources

China Financial and Economic News:

We know that the implementation and construction of projects depend on land. What will the MNR do to optimize land management and meet the demand for project land usage? What are the considerations for follow-up work? Thank you.

Liu Guohong:

We will have Mr. Wu answer these questions.

Wu Haiyang:

Thanks to this reporter for your questions. In recent years, the MNR has safeguarded redlines and bottom lines, promoted conservation and efficient use of resources, and has protected the rights and interests of farmers. On that basis, we have continued to improve policies for land use, optimize land management and provide service and support for the implementation of a series of major strategies and projects arranged by the Party Central Committee, effectively supporting high-quality development.

First, we have reformed the planning and management system for land use and have ensured land quotas in a category-based and targeted manner. We have adhered to the principle that “projects are developed and implemented in accordance with the plans and production factors stay with projects that they are allocated to” and have ensured the land use for major projects, with the quotas of planned land use directly allocated by the country. In terms of the land use for other projects, we have carried out mechanisms for coordinating the good use of idle land and the arrangements for planned quotas, which are the mechanisms we often mention that link the increase and deposit of land, pressuring enterprises and localities to make economical and intensive use of land. At the same time, we have arranged basic planned quotas for each province (or autonomous region or municipality) ensuring the land usage needs for major strategies, major industrial projects and important projects for the people’s wellbeing of provincial Party committees and governments. We have continued to arrange special plan quotas for counties lifted out of poverty and separate plan quotas for the construction of farmers’ housing to support the all-round rural revitalization. In a word, as long as it is an effective investment project that conforms to planning, national industrial policies and land usage policies, the reasonable needs for land use can be ensured by related plans.

Second, we've optimized the land use approval system to support timely project implementation. We've intensified efforts to promote interdepartmental coordination and made good preparations for projects. We've also streamlined pre-approval procedures for project land use and expedited major project approvals. We've adopted a series of policy measures, including pre-approved land use, temporary land use, and phase-oriented and segment-based approval for land use, to ensure that major projects regarding energy, transportation, water conservancy and defense can be implemented as soon as possible. Moreover, we've urged local governments to revise and release new compensation standards for land expropriation in accordance with the law. We've ensured that their practices adhere to the standard land expropriation process and that they must provide compensation for land expropriation and resettlement. By doing so, we aim to safeguard farmers' legitimate rights and interests.

Third, we've reduced the number of items requiring approval to improve the business environment. By leveraging the advantages of the "unified regulation system," we've advanced reforms to streamline administrative approval procedures and integrate business certifications and licenses into one consolidated license, such as merging land use pre-approval with site selection planning, land use permits with construction land planning permits, and land use verification with planning verification. We've also standardized planning permits for construction land, project construction, and rural construction while promoting electronic planning permit certificates. We've accelerated the implementation of "full online processing" for real estate registration, aiming to achieve "land transfer with immediate certificate issuance" and "completion with immediate certificate issuance."

Looking ahead, we will continue to enhance land management and strengthen support for leading industries and major projects. We will steadily improve the precision and efficiency of land resource allocation to ensure various sectors' reasonable land use needs are met.

That's all for my introduction. Thank you.