State Council proposes building 800 million mu of high-standard farmland by 2020

Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council presided over an executive meeting of the State Council on March 18, clarifying the departmental responsibilities and division of labor for the "Government Work Report" to ensure the completion of the main targets and tasks for economic and social development for the whole year; deploying the promotion of sustainable agricultural development and accelerating agricultural modernization; determining policy measures to improve port work and promote expanded opening-up and stable development of foreign trade.

The meeting pointed out that the "Government Work Report," already approved by the National People's Congress, is a “letter of responsibility” by which the government commits itself to the people of the whole country. In the face of the complex domestic and international economic situation, all departments and units must, in accordance with the arrangements of the "Government Work Report," fulfill their duties conscientiously and govern diligently and effectively. The meeting determined 62 key tasks in 12 areas of government work for this year and the responsible units. The meeting emphasized that, first, the economy must be kept operating within a reasonable range. Work must be done promptly to implement measures to strengthen the proactive fiscal policy and increase its effectiveness, flexibly and effectively use monetary policy tools, help enterprises and the grassroots overcome difficulties, and stabilize and expand employment. New developments in economic operation must be tracked and analyzed, policy reserves and response plans prepared, targeted regulation intensified, and timely pre-adjustments and fine-tuning made to maintain steady economic growth. Second, the cultivation of the “dual engine” must be accelerated. Reforms such as streamlining administration and delegating power, fiscal, tax and financial reform, and investment and financing reform must be pushed to greater depth to better stimulate market vitality and potential. New measures such as reducing approvals, lowering thresholds, and cutting taxes and fees must be introduced to clear obstacles and build platforms for mass entrepreneurship and innovation. The supply of public goods and services must be expanded, key projects such as railways in the central and western regions, major water conservancy projects, and the renovation of shantytowns and dilapidated houses must be pushed forward promptly, shortcomings must be addressed around improving people's livelihoods, and efforts must be made to encourage equipment to go global and international production capacity cooperation, adding new momentum for development. Third, the sense of responsibility and urgency must be strengthened, and all work must be handled in detail, carried out solidly, and pursued to the end. Supervision, assessment and accountability must be strengthened to ensure that the government's promises to the people are fulfilled.

The meeting held that work related to “agriculture, rural areas and farmers” is the top priority of government work, and that the drive for agriculture must not slacken, investment must not decrease, and the pace of deepening reform must not stop. Efforts must focus on transforming the development model, taking the path of a new type of agricultural modernization, ensuring national food security, and promoting increases in farmers' incomes. The meeting adopted the "National Plan for Sustainable Agricultural Development" and determined: first, to optimize the layout of agricultural production, strictly protect cultivated land, stabilize the area sown to grain, improve the quality of cultivated land by means such as deep plowing and subsoiling, and build 800 million mu of high-standard farmland with contiguous tracts that are protected against drought and flooding by 2020. Second, to tap potential through institutional reform, and on the basis of stabilizing household operations, promote various forms of appropriately scaled operations to raise labor productivity and output levels. Third, to implement major projects such as the protection of soil and water resources and the treatment of the agricultural and rural environment, promote economical and efficient water use, prevent and control pollution from farmland and livestock and aquaculture, strengthen the protection of forests, grasslands, wetlands, rivers and lakes, and develop ecological circular agriculture.

The meeting held that maintaining the stable development of foreign trade is crucial to stabilizing growth, adjusting the structure, and enhancing the country's competitiveness. Work on ports must be strengthened and improved to create a convenient, efficient, fair and transparent customs clearance environment. The meeting determined: first, on the existing basis, another batch of approval items involving port clearance and import and export procedures must be canceled and delegated to lower levels, all related non-administrative licensing approvals must be abolished, and no approvals may be set, either illegally or in disguised form. Necessary approvals must have simplified procedures and clear standards, with committed time limits for completion. Second, customs clearance services must be improved, the proportion of non-intrusive and non-interfering inspections must be increased, openness in port law enforcement and government affairs must be strengthened, administrative and institutional charges illegally set up in import and export procedures must be resolutely abolished, operating and service charges must be further regulated, paperless customs clearance must be promoted, and burdens on enterprises must be reduced and convenience provided. Third, an innovative mechanism for coordinated large-scale customs clearance must be created, the development of cross-regional and cross-departmental large-scale customs clearance must be accelerated, nationwide integrated customs clearance must be promoted, “serial law enforcement” must be transformed into “parallel law enforcement,” and the international trade “single window” must be actively promoted. Fourth, the layout of ports must be optimized, support must be given to the development of comprehensive pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce, systems for customs clearance management and quality and safety supervision must be established and improved, a more relaxed and convenient environment must be created for entrepreneurship and innovation, and China's economy must be helped to maintain medium-to-high-speed growth and move toward the medium-to-high end.