Full coverage: 2017 NPC & CPPCC Sessions

(Source: CGTN)

The Ministry of Agriculture held a press conference on Tuesday morning during the "two sessions". Minister Han Changfu briefed the media on China's agricultural structural supply-side reform.

Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu takes questions on promoting agricultural structure reform on supply-side at a press conference for the fifth session of the 12th National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 7, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

This year's first policy statement -- known as the No.1 Central Document -- released in February emphasised the need to push such reform and increase agriculture's comprehensive benefits and competitiveness. The minister noted that while the initial steps of the reform has been accomplished in 2016, more needed to be done this year.

"The supply-side reform in agriculture should solve three problems.  First, to adapt the demand of the market and improve the relationship between supply and demand.  Second, to improve agricultural quality and efficiency, and increase the farmers' incomes. Third, to promote the transformation and upgrading, and boost competitiveness. The previous agricultural structural reform was driven by administrative orders. But the supply-side reform focuses on the market.  It will be implemented by guiding the actions of market players," he said.