Rural vitalization set to be further advanced in China

As China steps up its development of new quality productive forces, the country's rural vitalization is expected to be further promoted in all respects, experts said during a seminar held in Beijing on Tuesday.

The seminar aimed to discuss China's Rural Development Report (2024), which was released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences on the same day.

Wang Changlin, vice-president of CASS, said new quality productive forces would inject a strong impetus into the modernization in rural areas and help resolve the challenges that have hindered agricultural development for a long time.

Wang said more emerging industries will take shape in rural areas and green agriculture will be advanced in an orderly manner. Besides, the public services targeting farmers – such as pensions and education – will be significantly improved.

"Further progress will also be made in the integrated development of urban and rural areas, thus contributing to common prosperity," said Wang.

As for specific development measures, Yu Fawen, a researcher at the Rural Development Institute of CASS, said China needs to optimize the allocation of innovation resources for rural areas and advance the transformation of research and development results into practical applications.

"Meanwhile, the country should fully utilize innovation platforms to carry out breeding technology R&D, so as to reduce its dependence on foreign countries in this regard," said Yu.

Yu also stressed further efforts to improve rural infrastructure, especially regarding network information services. Advanced technologies – including big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence – should be leveraged to develop a digital governance system for rural areas.

Besides, China needs to foster more high-end talents for rural vitalization by strengthening vocational education and skills training, as well as constructing a new qualification certification system for farmers, Yu added.

Ma Jiujie, a professor at the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development of Renmin University of China, said the country should also take full account of the rural areas' different characteristics while developing new quality productive forces.

Ma said each area should choose the technology that best suits it, and they could work together to maximize the benefits.

liuzizheng@chinadaily.com.cn