Farmers' Daily:
The No.1 Document of 2019 is entitled "Prioritizing the Development of Agriculture and Rural areas to Address the Issues Relating to Agriculture, Rural Areas and Rural People". And one of the six characteristics mentioned in Mr. Han's introduction highlights the policy orientation of prioritizing agricultural and rural development. Are there any specific requirements with regard to this aspect? Thanks.
Han Changfu:
The proposition of prioritizing agricultural and rural development is raised to meet the needs of overall development of the Party and the country, as well as to address the development gap between urban and rural areas, where inadequate development is apparent. It is a major policy that needs to be upheld for long-term. Hence, the Document puts forward requirements to master the policy orientation. As you have noted, the document is entitled "Several Opinions on Prioritizing the Development of Agriculture and Rural areas to Address the Issues Relating to Agriculture, Rural Areas and Rural People". Specifically, it emphasizes the "four priorities" put forward by President Xi Jinping.
First, priority in building a team of outstanding cadres. The excellent officials should be put on the front of the work related to agriculture, rural development and farmers' wellbeing, also known as "San Nong" work. Talented ones should work in the front line, while cadres who are familiar with the "San Nong" work over a long period should be included in local leadership development. We need to improve the system of training and managing cadres, in a bid to build a core team with deep knowledge of agriculture, and love for the rural areas and rural people.
Second, priority must be given to optimizing factors allocation. We need to break down barriers harmful to the population flow between urban and rural areas, and an equal exchange system. We should reverse the one-way flow of resources allocation. All kinds of factors, including land, talents, funding, technology and science should be led to flow into agriculture and rural areas, enabling them to give full play to their potential and vitality.
Third, priority has to be given to ensuring investment. We need to make sure that agriculture and rural areas are two priority aspects in fiscal and financial support. Efforts should be made to facilitate access to publicly-funded support, and to ensure that more revenues from sales of land rights are invested in agriculture and rural areas. In the past, we often took money from the rural areas to be used in urban areas. In future, emphasis should be given to investment and efforts focused on agriculture and rural areas.
Fourth, priority must be given to public services. We need to unify the standards and systems of basic public services provided in urban and rural areas. This means we should ensure that there is true fairness in this regard, so that the rural population can have access to public services at the same level as those in the urban areas.
Opinions on prioritizing the Development of Agriculture and Rural areas should be fully implemented in the "San Nong" work. We need to take the responsibilities of rural revitalization and "four priorities" on our shoulders and regard "San Nong" work as outstanding achievements in an official career. The implementation of the policies on modernization of agriculture and rural areas, as well as the "four priorities" should be made to ensure the "San Nong" work is fully guaranteed. Thanks.
