Rural spending increasing

Agriculture has been high on the agenda during this year's NPC and CPPCC sessions. The central government has pledged to increase financial and strategic support for rural areas.

In 2003, government spending on the rural economy exceeded 200 billion yuan for the first time. This figure had doubled by 2007, and has continued to rise ever since. This year, the government plans to allocate over 800 billion yuan. The money will mainly be spent on agricultural subsidies, infrastructure investment and welfare projects.

A number of recent measures have yielded good results, with growth in both grain output and farmers' incomes. Premier Wen Jiabao insists on solving the problems faced by agriculture, rural areas and farmers is a top priority for his government.