December 2, 2005

China to boost agricultural production in 2006

China will be intensifying efforts to boost agricultural production and rural development, Chinese authorities announced after a closed-door economic conference that ended Dec 1.

The three-day annual meeting, held by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, revealed the country's economic goals and plans in 2006.

Leaders at the meeting, which included China's President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, agreed that the central tasks would be to resolve problems related to agriculture and rural development.

Beginning next year, efforts would be made to stabilise grain production, in adherence to the national policy of meeting domestic demand locally.

The country would also be helping farmers increase their income and improve agricultural infrastructure, such as through new roads, water and electricity supply and telecommunication facilities.

The government also vowed to resolve its trade imbalance with the US. With China's large trade surplus with the US, the latter has been demanding that China further revalue its currency.

China's economy, Asia's second largest, grew a brisk 9.4 percent in the first three quarters, with inflation falling to a moderate 2 percent, government figures show.