Source: CGTN    Published: 2021-12-28

China's central rural work conference was held this past weekend, with the country's leaders discussing important rural issues, the state of agriculture and the needs of farmers. Officials also mapped out a development plan for next year. Ahead of the conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated the need to stabilize the agricultural sector, and ensure the nation's food security. He called for more efforts to guarantee stability in agricultural production. The Chinese leader says ensuring the supply of primary products should be a priority, and that it is crucial that the country has firm control over its own food supply. Wang Siwen reports.

From pledging new measures in agricultural policy to laying out priorities of rural development for the coming year, the annual central rural work conference wraps up with a focus on food security and self-reliance.

LIU ZHIQIN Senior Researcher, Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies Renmin University "Food security has includes two sections, one is being not polluted, from this environment condition. The other side is more important, from strategic point, whether we have adequate supply chain, this is our major concern."

The conference outlined a plan that includes protecting 120 million hectares of arable land and keeping grain output above 650 billion kilograms Producing enough soybeans and oilseeds is also high on the agenda. China largely relies on U.S. imports for both goods.

LU JIXIA Professor China Agricultural University "Before China entered WTO, we could basically supply all the food ourselves. Now the supply of cereal can be self-sufficient, which can reach over 97 percent. But for other products the self-sufficient percentage for soybeans is 17 percent, and oil 25.1 percent in 2020."

LIU ZHIQIN Senior Researcher, Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies Renmin University "To maintain China's position, supply chain of soybean and oil crop, we should have enough adequate soybeans, in this way we have a saying in this market, otherwise, we don't have any influence."

The meeting also stressed efforts to vitalize rural areas and ensure residents do not slip back into poverty.

WANG SIWEN Beijing "The work on agriculture and rural areas have been high on China's policy agenda, Ahead of next year's CPC National Congress, the central government's rural policy conference focuses on fostering healthy economy and uplifting workers in the countryside, WSW, CGTN, Beijing."

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