China's rural progress fuels economic recovery and high-quality development

China has made significant progress in rural-related work over the past year, strengthening the foundation for the country's economic recovery and high-quality development, said Tang Renjian, the minister of agriculture and rural affairs, on Wednesday.

He made these remarks while delivering a report to a diverse audience, including government officials, State-owned company workers, and college students at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Tang highlighted that agriculture, countryside, and farmer-related initiatives have been high on the central authorities' agenda since 2012, resulting in historic achievements and transformative changes. The minister noted that grain output reached an unprecedented high of around 695.41 million metric tons last year, while the achievements of China's antipoverty drive have continued to be consolidated and expanded.

He emphasized advancements in rural development, construction, and governance, along with substantial growth in rural income, contributing to the overall stability and harmony of rural society.

As a result, the work related to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers has been further reinforced, serving as the cornerstone of the national economy and providing robust support for economic recovery and high-quality development, Tang stated.

As China progresses along its distinctive path toward modernization, Tang noted that there have emerged "rare and favorable" opportunities to advance rural vitalization work and expedite the country's transformation into an agricultural powerhouse due to more favorable policies.

He expressed confidence and determination in achieving new milestones in advancing comprehensive rural vitalization, aiming to turn China into a global agricultural powerhouse.

Tang called for unified efforts to ensure a secure food supply and to empower less affluent rural residents to strive for prosperity. He also stressed the need to develop industrial chains in rural areas and broaden income sources for rural residents.