The Standing Committee of the 10th National Committee of the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's
top advisory body, on Wednesday held workshops on building new
countryside.
The Standing Committee members discussed balancing rural and
urban development, developing the rural economy and increasing
farmers' income, enhancing rural infrastructure, developing rural
social undertakings and improving democratic management and
comprehensive reforms in the countryside.
Jia Qinglin, chairman of the CPPCC National
Committee, was present at a workshop.
Some members proposed the removal of barriers affecting
coordinated rural and urban development and the free flow and
optimized allocation of resources between rural and urban
areas.
They agreed that the focus should be put on developing county
economy, transfer of rural labor to non-farming industries, towns
and cities and increasing transfer payments to the underdeveloped
west region.
(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2006)