BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- As usual, China's "No. 1 central document" this year is devoted to agriculture, farmers and rural areas. The new document charts a roadmap for rural vitalization, a key part of the country's efforts to build a modernized economy.
By vitalizing its vast rural regions, China expects to see a strong agricultural sector, a beautiful countryside and well-off farmers, said the "No. 1 central document" released on Sunday.
The "No. 1 central document" is the name given to the first policy statement of the year released by the central authorities, and is seen as an indicator of policy priorities.
The strategy of rural vitalization was proposed as one of the keys to developing a modernized economy at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last year. The country still faces urban-rural development gap due mostly to a lack of quality and efficiency in agriculture.
Pursuing rural vitalization is now a "historic task" essential for accomplishing China's modernization goals and building a moderately prosperous society, said the latest document.
A specific timetable and tasks have been set and explained for the rural vitalization strategy.
By 2020, an institutional framework and policy system should be established for the strategy. By that time, no Chinese people should be living under the existing poverty line, and rural productivity and agricultural supply should improve substantially.
By 2035, "decisive" progress shall be made, with basic modernization of agriculture and rural areas. All Chinese, either in cities or rural areas, will have equal access to basic public services. Urban and rural integration will improve.
By 2050, rural areas shall see all-around vitalization.
The package of policies includes higher-quality agricultural development, protection of natural and cultural resources, and ensuring the quality of poverty-reduction.
It also aims for better rural governance, strengthened leadership of the CPC, better education and medical services, improved infrastructure and living facilities such as toilets, reforms on land use and collective property rights, and more training and incentives to build a stronger team to support rural development.