Premier stresses unwavering reform, rural democracy

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has pledged to unwaveringly push forward opening-up and reform in the face of current challenges and difficulties, while calling for protection of farmers' rights to vote to improve rural community administration.

At a time of global uncertainties, furthering reform is still the only key to solving all problems, said Wen while visiting Guangdong, a southern province that took the lead in China's opening-up and reform, from Friday to Saturday.

"Opening-up and reform should be implemented unswervingly, or there will only be a dead end," said Wen, citing former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who made a famous speech during his inspection tour of south China 20 years ago.

Wen has called for determination and boldness to push forward reform and opening-up, making long-term reform and opening-up plans for certain areas in particular.

Wen highlighted the need to ensure farmers' voting rights and the direct election of village-level leadership, which he labeled an important task for local authorities.

He said self-governance is the only appropriate way for improving rural community administration, noting that local affairs should be decided by local villagers.

There should be a strict legal system and regulations for the election, as well as election procedures that are open, fair and transparent, he said.

Wen also called for more efforts to ensure farmers' rights in land, which he said land as property of the farmers "have not been fully protected."

Unauthorized expropriation of farmland has been a common problem, causing many complaints and even mass disturbances, said Wen, who reiterated his firm stance on the issue.

In urban planning, more infrastructure funding should be allocated to improving soil fertility of suburban land, he added.

China's first policy document for 2012, jointly issued last week by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, China's cabinet, has also pledged acceleration in revisions of relevant laws to improve its policies regarding rural land.

The transfer of land use rights must be based on a compensated, voluntary basis and be conducted in accordance with the law, it said.

Illegal land grabs caused mass protests in China last year. A dispute over land use, financing and elections in Wukan village in the southern province of Guangdong led to large-scale protests by villagers against local authorities.

Wen also called for better planning for rural construction and curbing environmental pollution in the countryside.

During a meeting with owners of logistics, export and import enterprises, Wen said China faced grim external demands, but that the country's foreign trade policy will remain generally stable while adjustments will be made to encourage trade growth.

China should help stabilize the European market, which is actually helping China itself, as Europe has been both China's largest export market and the biggest source of technical imports, Wen added.

The premier's trip to the southern province aimed to solicit opinions and feedback on government work ahead of the two annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which are typically held in March.

The State Council also announced last week that it will send drafts of the annual government work report to local governments and some central departments in order to solicit opinions, with the report to be delivered at the opening of the annual session of the NPC, China's top legislature.