China pledges rural reform, innovation

JINAN - Chinese leaders of the State Council, China's Cabinet, stressed on Friday the importance of pushing forward rural reform and innovation as part of the country's agriculture modernization drive.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Vice-Premier Wang Yang made the comments during a work conference on spring farming in Jinan, east China's Shandong Province.

Wang said China should create new-types of business entities that can produce quality growth.

He also said farmers' rights and interests over their land should be guaranteed.

Supportive policies should also be implemented, especially those covering agricultural facilities, rural credit and irrigation and water conservancy, as well as disaster prevention, Wang said.

The conference also said spring plowing was important in stabilizing supply and prices of agricultural products and supporting economic growth.

Efforts should also be strengthened to prevent forest and grassland fires, the conference said.