China will make favorable policies and invest more in the rural areas next year, said a central work meeting on rural development closed in Beijing on Thursday.

 

The year of 2006 is the start of China's 11th Five-Year Program (2006-2010) and rural work is of great significance to the goal of building socialist new countryside, said the meeting.

 

Policies favorable to rural development would be made and sustained next year, according to the meeting.

 

The government would spend more on agricultural development and rural development in 2006, it said, adding that the increase of investment would be higher than that in the previous year.

 

Expenditures on the countryside construction would have a higher proportion in the government's national debts and financial budget, it said.

 

More money would be used to improve living conditions for people in the rural areas, according to the meeting.

 

Apart from that, efforts would be made to push forward modernization of agriculture, raise farmers' income and further reforms in the rural areas, it said.

 

Infrastructure construction would also be enhanced along with public affairs next year, said the meeting.

 

It also pointed out that root organizations of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the rural areas should play a leading role in promoting development there.

 

Besides, efforts should be made to solve problems that affect reform, development and stability in rural areas, the meeting said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2005)