People's Daily:
It has been two years since the rural revitalization strategy was put forward. What measures have the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs taken to implement the strategy and what achievements have been made?
Han Changfu:
The rural revitalization strategy was put forward at the 19th CPC National Congress. General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that it was the key task of the work concerning agriculture, rural areas and the well-being of farmers in the new era, and efforts should be made to promote revitalization of rural industries, development of necessary talents, culture, ecology and organization. Over the past two years, the CPC Central Committee has placed great emphasis on implementation and all departments and localities have taken effective measures, enabling us to make a good start with positive results. During the process, efforts were mainly made in the following aspects:
Han Changfu:
First, we emphasized proper planning. The CPC Central Committee issued a national rural revitalization strategy plan mapping out a series of key projects, plans and actions and launched a three-year national action to achieve improvements in the rural living environment. All provinces have issued their own provincial-level rural revitalization plans, while most cities and counties carried out a similar task. A blueprint has been drawn up at all levels with clear assignments and agendas.
Han Changfu:
We promoted the "Zhejiang experience". When General Secretary Xi Jinping worked in Zhejiang Province, he arranged and pushed forward the implementation of the project of "One Thousand Demonstration Villages, Ten Thousand Renovation Villages", which created a batch of beautiful villages with a pleasant living environment, offering an example for other places to learn from. Now, when delegations from elsewhere visited Zhejiang, there is no need to arrange special routes as they can see beautiful villages everywhere. Zhejiang is now being built into a rural revitalization demonstration province guiding implementation of the national strategy.
Han Changfu:
Third, we carried out work through a carefully planned layout. Last year, we focused on making an overall arrangement. Following the requirement of building rural areas with thriving businesses, a pleasant living environment, displaying good social etiquette and civility, effective governance and prosperity, the CPC Central Committee has issued guidance on developing rural industries, improving the living environment and enhancing governance and civility. Last year, the revenue of leisure agriculture and rural tourism exceeded 800 billion yuan and the online sales of agricultural products totaled 300 billion yuan. Rural areas carried out waste and sewage disposal and a "Toilet Revolution", and a total of 10 million rural households saw their toilets revolutionalized last year.
Han Changfu:
Fourth, we stepped up the provision of systematic assurances. Recently, the CPC Central Committee issued the CPC Rural Work Rules, forming the first regulation of the Party on rural work. It provided political and organizational guarantees for implementing the strategy. What's more, now we are undertaking research on compiling reform plans to introduce more land sales revenues to agriculture and the rural areas.
Han Changfu:
To implement the rural revitalization strategy, the CPC Central Committee has put forward three phased goals to be reached by 2020, 2035 and 2050 respectively. We will follow the requirement, earnestly advance all the work and make solid progress by 2020. Thank you.
