Rural workers occupy the lion's share of China's population. With this in mind, the Chinese leadership is to intensify efforts to boost agricultural production and rural development and help farmers earn more in the coming year.

Leaders at the just concluded Central Economic Work Conference agree the building of a new socialist countryside and solving problems related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers should be regarded as the central task of the Party next year. The conference says more effort is needed to raise farmer's incomes, and more investment is required in rural education, culture, and public health. It also calls for the quicker construction of basic facilities.