In the process of converting agricultural households to urban resident status, farmers' rights and interests can only increase, never decrease
Recently, Beijing issued implementation opinions on further advancing reform of the household registration system, announcing that it will abolish the distinction between agricultural and non-agricultural household registration in the Beijing area and uniformly register them as resident households. As a mega-city and the capital, Beijing's joining the ranks of "converting agricultural households to urban resident status" is especially of milestone significance for household registration system reform. At this point, all 31 provincial-level regions across the country have issued opinions on household registration system reform centered on "converting agricultural households to urban resident status," comprehensively abolishing agricultural household registration. This marks the exit of the dual household registration system, in place since 1958, from the stage of history, and is a major event in advancing the modernization of national governance and the reform and development of agriculture, rural areas and farmers.
The distinction between agricultural household registration and non-agricultural household registration was a product of China's planned economy era. While it adapted to the economic development conditions and social management level of the time, it also erected a barrier between urban and rural areas, causing severe dualization of urban and rural economies and societies, leading to the continuous widening of the urban-rural gap and enormous damage to farmers' rights. It itself also became a chronic disease and bottleneck in economic and social development, and has long been widely criticized. With economic and social development, accelerating household registration system reform has not only become the call of the times, but also acquired the conditions for implementation.
Comprehensively abolishing agricultural household registration and implementing "converting agricultural households to urban resident status" carries tremendous political significance and far-reaching historical significance. It is not only because our Party's governing purpose is to serve the people wholeheartedly, and farmers, as the majority of the people, should enjoy the rights they deserve; it is not only because historical debts must be repaid, and the enormous sacrifices and contributions farmers made for revolution, construction, reform and opening up must receive reasonable, lawful and dignified compensation; it is not only because in advancing urban-rural integration today, farmers should of course participate equally in the modernization process and share in its fruits; it is also because in building a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious modern country and realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, there absolutely must not be a dual society, and absolutely must not be "second-class citizens." Farmers will historically return to their original meaning: it is an occupation, not an identity!
Comprehensively abolishing agricultural household registration and implementing "converting agricultural households to urban resident status" is a major decision and key juncture in the process of urban-rural integration. Therefore, "converting agricultural households to urban resident status" should be viewed from the perspective of urban-rural integration and implemented according to the requirement of equalizing the rights of urban and rural residents. The key to implementing "converting agricultural households to urban resident status" is to carry out "integration" and "equalization" well. Just like the organs of the human body: although they are located in different positions and have different functions, they are all part of the body, all indispensable, and all must be cared for; not only must nutrition be delivered in a balanced way, but targeted measures must also be taken to strengthen the foundation and support the weak. The same is true between urban and rural areas. In the face of inequality and gaps between urban and rural areas in basic public services, how to enable farmers to truly enjoy the same welfare and security as urban residents is an inherent part of "converting agricultural households to urban resident status." Therefore, the next step requires introducing more targeted policy details, increasing the extension and coverage of public services in rural areas, gradually closing the gap between urban and rural residents in welfare benefits, creating conditions to continuously improve rural residents' weaknesses and deficiencies in education, medical care, employment, elderly care, health, culture and other areas, and striving to eliminate various visible and hidden welfare gaps, so that good policies truly take effect and farmers have an obvious sense of gain. Only thus can the original intent of the policy design be met.
Abolishing agricultural household registration and implementing "converting agricultural households to urban resident status" means farmers' rights and interests can only increase, never decrease. For example, land contractual management rights, homestead use rights and the right to distribution of collective returns are economic and political rights granted to farmers by law, and are also farmers' basic and core rights. They are the "lifeblood" of farmers' survival and development. No one may infringe upon them, and no one may engage in any "clever calculations"! We must resolutely prevent anyone from scheming against farmers' land rights in the name of "converting agricultural households to urban resident status," and still less may anyone change the collective ownership attributes of rural land for various reasons and seriously infringe upon farmers' land property rights. We must resolutely prevent the so-called "exchanging land for social security" after "converting agricultural households to urban resident status," and forcefully requiring farmers to withdraw from contracted land. Farmers' land contractual management rights are rights granted by law and are essentially a kind of property right. Whether to withdraw is their freedom, and no one may deprive them of it, just as no one can require a city resident who moves to the countryside to withdraw his urban real estate. Likewise, no one has the right to require a farmer who has moved to the city to withdraw from his contracted land. Of course, we encourage migrant workers who have stable employment and lives in cities to withdraw from contracted land with compensation, and we believe that as long as we maintain historical patience, more second- and third-generation migrant workers will voluntarily withdraw from contracted land. But please remember two key words: compensated, and patient! Any withdrawal must be compensated, and must involve exchange; any withdrawal must be patient, and must take time! Encouragingly, with the full coverage of the ongoing land rights confirmation, registration and certification work across various places, farmers' land rights will be firmly held in farmers' own hands.
Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. Abolishing agricultural household registration and implementing "converting agricultural households to urban resident status" is an act that follows the times and responds to the people's will, but announcing the abolition is easy, while solid implementation is difficult. And this is not only related to policy will, but also connected to economic strength. Under the new normal of the economy, this is even more of a test. Therefore, after the policy is determined, "implementation" is important, and "solidity" shows even more skill. One must not aim too high while divorced from local realities, and one must not seek excessive speed regardless of the economic level. One must tailor measures to circumstances, and cook as much rice as one has. Although it is regrettable that true equality of rights and welfare between urban and rural residents cannot be achieved overnight, if there is small progress every day, accumulating small victories can ultimately become a great victory.
"At no time can we ignore agriculture, forget farmers, or neglect rural areas." This is a heavy hammer and loud drum for the whole Party and the whole society to attach great importance to agriculture, rural areas and farmers. Implementing "converting agricultural households to urban resident status" creates new opportunities for enhancing farmers' well-being, but the overall situation in which agriculture is weak, farmers are disadvantaged, and rural development lags behind has not changed, and the urban-rural gap will be difficult to eliminate in a short period. Therefore, after "converting agricultural households to urban resident status," support for agriculture, rural areas and farmers can only increase, not weaken, and farmers' rights and interests can only increase, not decrease. This should become a consensus and always be upheld.