Chinese vice premier stresses agricultural supply-side reform

HARBIN - Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang has underlined supply-side structural reform in the agricultural sector as a major strategic task of the central government.

Wang made the remarks during an inspection tour on the implementation of the "No. 1 central document" and reform of the corn reserve purchasing program in the northeastern Heilongjiang Province, an agricultural province and major grain producer.

Pushing forward supply-side structural reform in the agricultural sector should be the main theme of China's agricultural work, he said.

The vice premier urged improved structure in the agricultural sector in accordance with market demand, food safety and more green and high-quality farm products.

Efforts should be made to nurture new development engines by building modern farm production bases, extending the sector's industrial and value chain and increasing the sector's comprehensive benefits and the competitiveness, Wang said.

He also encouraged the establishment long-term mechanisms that will let farmers share the profits from the sector's development and the rise in land value.

The "No. 1 central document" is the name traditionally given to the first policy statement released by the central authorities in the year, which has been devoted to agriculture, farmers and rural areas for 14 straight years. This year's document called for deepening supply-side structural reform in agriculture to develop the sector.