China issues No.1 central document, highlights rural vitalization

China unveiled its "No. 1 central document" for 2021 on Sunday, stressing efforts to comprehensively accelerate rural vitalization and the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.

As the first policy statement released by China's central authorities each year, the document is seen as an indicator of policy priorities. Work on agriculture and rural areas has been high on the agenda for 18 consecutive years.

The document pointed out that the government will adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while keeping performance stable, and enhance leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on work related to agriculture, rural areas, and farmers.

Solving issues related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers remains the top priority, the document said, calling for innovation-driven development to support the country's new journey to fully build a modern socialist country.

The document also set a target of 650 million tonnes in grain output for 2021, with the rural income growth rate expected to outpace urban income growth rate and a deepened implementation of supply-side structural reform in the agricultural sector.

Following the given plan, the modernization of agriculture and rural areas will reach significant progress by 2025 and construction of rural infrastructure facilities will be basically complete.

Noting remarkable achievements made in poverty alleviation work, the document emphasized an effective transition from consolidating poverty alleviation outcomes to achieving rural vitalization.