China vows to promote agriculture development in 2010

BEIJING, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government will enhance efforts in 2010 to promote agriculture development, strengthen produce supply to the market, and expand rural demand, participants at the Central Economic Work Conference agreed Monday.

The government will strengthen rural policies to increase farming-related subsidies, increase incomes of farmers, and expand demand in rural areas, said a statement from the conference.

Measures would also be enacted to improve agricultural production capacity, and quicken steps to develop modern agriculture.

The government would maintain relatively stable prices of produce next year, increase the minimum purchase prices for major grain categories, according to a statement from the conference.

Financial and fiscal supports would be provided to farmers who start new businesses.

Infrastructure construction in rural areas, including reinforcing of large and mid-sized reservoirs, irrigation facilities, improvements to the power grid, and road construction, would be stepped up.

The government also underscored improvements to public services in rural areas, to improve education and medical care.

During the three-day conference, the government also pledged to adopt proactive fiscal and moderately easy monetary policies, and improve the country's economic growth quality in 2010, said the statement.

The Central Economic Work Conference, which meets annually, comprises policy-making officials from the central government and its departments as well as provincial-level governments.