Safeguard farmer’s rights

Source: CCTV.com

09-04-2006 11:23

China's reform in rural areas has meant progress in many areas over thirty years. It has aimed to develop productivity and safeguard the rights and interests of farmers. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao spoke on these issues at a two-day national conference on rural reform which closed on Saturday in Beijing.

Premier Wen Jiabao said this year's scrapping of agricultural taxes across China marks a new stage in reforming rural parts of the country. He added that the government will continue to deepen institutional reform at township level, and financial reform at both county and township levels.

The new tax reforms benefit farmers, and have meant some income-loss this year to Chinese grassroots-level governments. But China's central, provincial and city governments have already set aside more than 100 billion yuan, or about 12 and a half billion US dollars as compensation.

Comprehensive reform in China's rural areas is not just in the economics sector. It also tackles political, social and cultural aspects.

Wen Jiabao spoke about institutional reform at township level, stressing the need to alter the functions of government, streamline staff, reduce expenditure and improve administrative efficiency.

And steps have also been taken to ensure better education for children. By the end of this year, primary and junior high school students in rural areas will no longer need to pay tuition and other education expenses. This means poverty will no longer be a barrier to compulsory education. Wen Jiabao also guaranteed regular salaries to rural teachers, to be paid out of the government budget. This, to put an end to random charging for trumped-up reasons.

The Chinese Premier stressed that building a new socialist countryside depends on strong self-governance and the expansion of a grassroots democracy. And these in turn need democratic elections, and effectiveness in decision-making, management and supervision.

Editor:Luyuying