The system of democratic election, making decisions on village affairs by villagers themselves, and making public the village affairs, have been improved constantly since the revised law was enacted in November 1998.

"The implementation of the law in the countryside, an important part of China's practice of ruling the country by law, will help farmers to be their own masters,'' said Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee.

Li made the remarks at a meeting yesterday on preparations for the inspection of the law enforcement in Northeast China's Jilin Province, South China's Hainan Province, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and East China's Shandong Province -- and Fujian Province next month.

Headed by Cao Zhi, vice-chairman of the NPC standing committee, five inspection groups will travel to these areas to check how the law is implemented there and gain useful experience.

Great achievements have been made in the countryside's grassroots democratic construction in the more than two years since the law has been in force, said Minister of Civil Affairs Doji Cering yesterday.

There are more than 730,000 grassroots villager committees in China.

Doji said in most places where new elections of villagers' committees have been conducted in the past two years, more than 90 per cent of the farmers got involved.

To ensure the farmers' democratic rights, various levels of departments of civil affairs in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province have punished 1,760 illegal acts and conducted 234 new elections in 2000.

However, problems still exist, warned Doji.

Some local governments do not give enough support to villagers' autonomy and even delay the new elections.

The ministry also advised amending the law after soliciting comments from different walks of life.

"When the law is embraced by farmers, it will help the countryside become more prosperous, democratic and civilized,'' said Doji.

(China Daily 06/01/2001)