Chinese premier stresses development of water conservancy, high-standard farmlands

BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for efforts to facilitate the construction of farmland-related water conservancy facilities and the high-standard development of farmlands to lay a solid foundation for ensuring the country's grain security.

Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a recent instruction on farmlands and water conservancy.

Farmland development is a key measure for China to comprehensively guarantee its grain security, Li said, highlighting the role of high-standard farmland nurturing and water conservancy construction in ensuring the stable supply of grain and other major agricultural products.

He urged the importance of enhancing fiscal fund support, diversifying investment channels, and improving supervision systems to ensure the quality and safety of relevant projects.

Efforts should also be made to strengthen the country's capacity to prevent and mitigate disasters affecting the agricultural sector, continuously improve farmland quality, and lay a foundation for building China into a country with a solid agricultural sector, said Li.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong stressed stronger and more effective measures to advance the construction of water conservancy and high-standard farmlands to safeguard national food security.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during a teleconference held on Friday.

He also stressed the importance of promoting the utilization of saline-alkali land, advancing major water conservancy project construction, and ensuring water security for rural residents.

The vice premier also called for solid efforts in winter and spring farming, autumn grain purchases, and ensuring the basic livelihoods of people in rural regions.