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E-mail China.org.cn, August 19, 2024
Farmers' Daily:
This year, China's No. 1 central document for 2024 recommends applying the experience of the Green Rural Revival Program and advancing all-round rural revitalization strongly and effectively. Could you provide an update on the progress of this work so far this year? How are different regions identifying key entry points based on their specific conditions to ensure that farmers truly benefit? Thank you.
Han Jun:
I will answer this question. As everyone knows, the theme of China's No. 1 central document for 2024 is to apply the experience of the Green Rural Revival Program and advance all-round rural revitalization strongly and effectively. The tasks for agriculture, rural areas and rural residents outlined in this year's No. 1 central document can be summarized as "two assurances, three enhancements and two strengthening measures." The "two assurances" focus on ensuring national food security and preventing large-scale poverty recurrence. I addressed both aspects when responding to reporters' questions earlier. The "three enhancements" aim to improve rural industrial development, enhance rural construction and raise rural governance standards. The "two strengthening measures" involve bolstering the dual drivers of technology and reform, while reinforcing measures to increase farmers' income.
As you all know, the "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" project was a significant decision made by Comrade Xi Jinping shortly after he began working in Zhejiang province. He spent 118 days visiting 11 prefecture-level cities and inspecting villages carefully to fully grasp the general situation of the province and its agricultural conditions. During my work in the agricultural sector, I have visited Zhejiang multiple times to research and study the implementation experience of the project. Over the past 20 years, the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee and the provincial government have steadfastly followed the direction pointed out by General Secretary Xi Jinping, with successive administrations carrying out the work, adhering to a consistent blueprint and exploring a scientific path for improving rural living environments, comprehensively promoting rural revitalization, and building a Beautiful China. The experience of the "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" project has gradually been promoted nationwide. Since the beginning of this year, various regions and departments have earnestly implemented the arrangements of the "No. 1 central document," learning from and applying the experiences of the project based on local conditions. They have strengthened organization, leadership, fiscal guarantees and financial support, implementing a great number of pilot demonstration projects. The key tasks of all-around rural revitalization have been steadily advanced and the achievements of poverty alleviation have continued to be consolidated, with the levels of rural industrial development, rural construction and governance being steadily improved. The overall situation of agriculture, rural areas and rural residents continues to show signs of stable improvement and quality enhancement.
Moving forward, we will take profound and real measures to promote the learning and application of the experience of the "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" project and achieve greater accomplishments in rural revitalization. The key is to learn the development philosophy, the right work approach, and promotion mechanisms of the project, especially to establish a long-term mechanism for promoting all-around rural revitalization. Learning from and applying the experience of the project and establishing a long-term mechanism for promoting all-around rural revitalization is a clear requirement put forward by the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. Rural revitalization should run through the entire process of building a great country and national rejuvenation. How should this long-term mechanism be established? Since I started working in the ministry, I have thought hard and conducted research on this issue. Currently, we propose focusing on five main areas in our practical work:
We need to concentrate our efforts on accomplishing practical tasks that rural residents can feel and benefit from. We should aim to provide rural areas with basic modern living conditions. Starting with addressing the urgent needs and concerns of rural residents, we need to focus on improving rural living environments to promote the treatment of rural garbage and sewage and the renovation of rural toilets based on local conditions and improve the overall appearance of villages. We should accelerate shoring up weak links in infrastructure such as rural roads, drinking water and water supply, as these areas still have shortcomings and some are burdened with heavy debts. We must improve the public service system in rural education, elderly care, health care and culture.
We should focus on industrial employment to increase farmers' income. The central task of the "agriculture, rural areas and rural residents" work is to increase farmers' income and make their wallets bulge. In this regard, each region should develop "local specialties" based on local conditions, continuously expanding industries for rural prosperity and especially enhancing new rural industries and business forms. E-commerce is a new industry, with more and more agricultural products being sold online. Rural homestay is a new industry and also a new business form. When I worked in Anhui province, the number of homestays there doubled last year. Visiting homestays can generate income from renting out rooms, and more money can be made from meals. When guests leave, they may also buy local products they find tasty. The model of one sale leading to another maximizes agricultural comprehensive benefits. Therefore, expanding internal rural employment and increasing farmers' income have great potential in terms of new industries and business forms. We encourage enterprises to go to rural areas to develop agricultural product processing and tourism, and to involve farmers and help them get rich, rather than squeeze them out. In summary, we need to continuously expand channels for rural employment and opportunities to increase incomes to promote sustainable and stable growth in farmers' income, and make solid progress toward common prosperity.
We need to identify effective methods and practical tools to enhance rural governance. We should continue to strengthen grassroots Party organizations in rural areas and improve the rural governance system that combines self-governance, rule of virtue and rule of law under the leadership of Party organizations. In recent years, we have promoted some pragmatic and effective rural governance methods, such as the points-rewards system. Now, many rural areas across the country have implemented the points-rewards system, whereby households can earn points for having tidy courtyards, enthusiastically participating in collective welfare, or maintaining good mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships. These points can be exchanged for daily necessities, and points can also be deducted. Rural residents say that accumulating points is like accumulating virtue, which is a pragmatic and effective rural governance approach. We also need to leverage the positive role of village rules and regulations in promoting public order and customs, continuously changing outdated social mores and addressing prominent issues of people's concern such as high bride prices and extravagant funerals.
We will promote social civility in rural areas, from outward appearances to inner values. Rural revitalization should focus on both physical transformation and inner strength, aiming not only to fill farmers' pockets but also to enrich their minds. This involves advancing both material and cultural aspects of civilization. We will effectively organize and carry out a series of activities for rural cultural revitalization. Key initiatives include successfully hosting the Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival and strengthening the protection and inheritance of excellent farming culture. Additionally, supporting people in rural areas in spontaneously conducting public cultural and sports
We will build rural areas that are comfortable and beautiful to live in, and fit for work under the guidance of sound planning. The principle of "plan first, build later" is a key lesson from Zhejiang's Green Rural Revival Program. It is essential to start with practical conditions, approaching village planning in an organized and categorized manner, with a particular focus on enhancing the quality and effectiveness of these plans. It is not necessary for every village to have a plan; what matters most is practicality and effectiveness. Through sound planning, we can craft a distinctive and beautiful rural landscape. The city offers a vibrant life, while the countryside meets the people's aspirations better. By employing sound approaches, we can highlight the unique beauty of our villages. Thank you.
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