On February 23, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council released the 22nd \"No. 1 Central Document,\" titled \"Opinions on Further Deepening Rural Reforms to Solidly Promote the Comprehensive Revitalization of Rural Areas.\" The document highlights \"reform\" as a key focus, mentioning the term 14 times, alongside \"mechanism\" 27 times, \"institution\" 14 times, \"policy\" 11 times, and \"system\" 3 times. This underscores the Party and state’s commitment to accelerate rural revitalization and guide agricultural and rural modernization.
Since the implementation of reform and opening-up, particularly since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, significant strides have been made in addressing the \"three rural issues\": agriculture, rural areas, and rural residents. Historical achievements in agriculture and rural development have been realized, as evidenced by data from the National Bureau of Statistics of China. Between 2012 and 2024, total grain output soared from 1,179.1 billion jin (589.55 billion kilograms) to 1,413 billion jin, maintaining stability above 1,300 billion jin for ten consecutive years. Additionally, the per capita disposable income of rural residents surged from 7,917 yuan ($1,091.85) to 23,119 yuan.
Despite these successes, China faces a multitude of complex international and domestic challenges that introduce uncertainty into its development trajectory. Addressing these risks and challenges necessitates a reinforced foundation in agricultural and rural work.
Looking ahead, with the ambition to comprehensively revitalize rural areas and build a robust agricultural nation, the persistence in advancing rural reforms is paramount. Efforts will concentrate on enhancing agricultural efficiency, empowering rural communities, and increasing farmers' earnings. These initiatives are crucial for underpinning the promotion of Chinese modernization.
Key strategies include safeguarding national food security and preventing large-scale poverty relapse, which form the bedrock of agricultural and rural work. Furthermore, refining the policy systems supporting grain production, optimizing coordination between agricultural product trade and production, establishing a diversified food supply system, and enhancing mechanisms for saving grains and other food items will be essential. These measures aim to stabilize and secure the supply of grains and other vital agricultural products.
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Institutional reform stands out in China's 'No. 1 central document'
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