Press conference on poverty alleviation and rural revitalization
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 29, 2019
Speakers:
Han Changfu, director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, minister of agriculture and rural affairs
Liu Yongfu, director of the Office of State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development
Chairperson:
Zhao Jiangtao, person in charge of the Press Center for the Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China
Date:
September 27, 2019
Zhao Jiangtao, person in charge of the Press Center for the Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China:
Ladies and gentlemen, media friends, good morning. Welcome to the third press conference held in the press center. The theme of this conference is rural revitalization and poverty alleviation.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, substantial developments have been achieved in the work related to agriculture and rural areas. Remarkable achievements have been recorded, indeed. The Chinese people have risen up and become rich. With the continuous progress of poverty alleviation, we are getting closer to completing the task of building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects.
Today, we are delighted to invite Mr. Han Changfu, director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group and minister of agriculture and rural affairs, and Mr. Liu Yongfu, director of the Office of State Council Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development, to brief you. They will make an introduction of relevant work and answer some of your questions.
Now, I'll give the floor first to Mr. Han Changfu.
Han Changfu, director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, minister of agriculture and rural affairs:
Ladies and gentlemen, media friends, good morning.
Monday marked the second Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival. General Secretary Xi Jinping wrote a congratulatory letter to all Chinese farmers on this occasion. He pointed out that, with a solid foundation laid by agriculture, we have full confidence in national development. This is a ringing endorsement of China's achievements in agriculture and rural areas in the past 70 years.
Over the past 70 years, since the reform and opening up program was launched in 1978, and especially the holding of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, China has recorded remarkable development in its agricultural endeavors and rural areas. I want to introduce this from five different aspects.
First, we successfully addressed the problem of hunger in the country. The Chinese people longed for adequate food, but were unable to achieve it for thousands of years. Under CPC leadership, we were able to realize that dream. In 1949, China's total grain yield was only 226.4 billion jin (1 jin=0.5 kilogram). Now, the figure has been at a stable level above 1.3 trillion jin for four years. The supply of edible oil, vegetables and fruit have also been adequate. China feeds approximately 20% of the world's population with 9% of the available arable land. This is widely recognized as a miracle in global agricultural history. It showcases the superiority of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Second, absolute poverty has been basically eliminated in rural areas. In the initial years after the reform and opening up in 1978, a total of 770 million people lived in poverty in rural areas. By the end of 2018, the figure had fallen to 16.6 million. In 2020, poverty will be completely eliminated. Adjusted for inflation, the annual per capita disposable income of farmers reached 14,617 yuan, a 40-fold increase from 1949. More than 99% of administrative villages are linked to paved roads. The new rural cooperative medical insurance system, rural old-age insurance system and compulsory education cover all in rural areas.
Third, agriculture has witnessed a qualitative leap in modernization. Revolutionary changes have taken place regarding production methods. Technology now contributes to 58.3% of agricultural production. Improved seeds are used in all regions. The total area of quality farmland has reached 640 million mu (1 mu=0.67 hectare). Machines have been used in regard to over 80% of the grain crops for plowing, sowing and harvesting.
Fourth, regarding agriculture, rural areas and the well-being of farmers, a set of policies with Chinese characteristics have been launched. In 1978, China began to launch the household contract responsibility system with income linked to output. The agricultural tax implemented for over 2,600 years was finally eliminated. Agricultural subsidy system has been established. The current round of contracts covering rural land will be extended for another 30 years upon expiration. Reform separating land ownership, contract and management rights for contracted rural land has been launched. We will maintain a long-term commitment to these major policies.
Fifth, a new chapter in rural revitalization has been opened. At the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the strategy of rural revitalization was announced. This is another historic task we must fulfill after addressing hunger and poverty in the country. It is also the main focus of the work related to agriculture, rural areas and the well-being of farmers in the new era. In the past two years, the campaign of rural revitalization has got underway in all aspects. An integrated development of economic, political, cultural, social, ecological and Party building work has been promoted throughout the rural areas.
In the past seven decades, we have accumulated many precious experiences. Among them are two fundamental ones. First, we must always maintain the CPC's leadership in the work related to agriculture, rural areas and the well-being of farmers, to ensure it proceeds in the correct direction. Second, we must always maintain farmer's leading role, and respect their pioneering spirit.
Presently, all works related to agriculture, rural areas and the well-being of farmers are proceeding toward a good direction. We will continue to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Particular attention will be given to General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions concerning our work. Guided by the strategy of putting agriculture and rural areas first in development, we will promote rural revitalization in all aspects, so as to make national agriculture stronger, the rural areas more beautiful and farmers more prosperous.
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