Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of food security and implementing the rural revitalization strategy on Sunday afternoon when visiting national political advisors from the sectors of agriculture, welfare and social security, who are attending the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, participated in their joint group meeting, and listened to their comments and suggestions.

He recognized the achievements of the CPPCC in the past year in its political consultation and policy-making suggestions.

In discussions about agriculture, he stressed the need for food security, saying that security and sufficient annual grain production are essential to feed over 1.4 billion people. 

He also emphasized the need to continue implementing the rural revitalization strategy, protect land and develop agricultural science and technology.

Efforts are needed in deepening reform of the agricultural science and technology system and strengthening the leading role of enterprises in innovation, he said.

In implementing the rural revitalization strategy, he stressed the need to put the improvement of comprehensive agricultural production capacity in a more prominent position, and make continuous efforts to promote the high-quality development of social security measures.

On social welfare, he said that China has established the world's largest social security system, calling for more attention to vulnerable groups and welfare deficiencies in rural areas.

Regarding the importance of protecting the interests of women, children, elderly and people with disabilities, he stressed deepening reform of the social assistance system.

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi also extended greetings and sincere wishes to women of all ethnic groups and all walks of life, to women from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, and the Taiwan region, and to overseas Chinese women ahead of International Women's Day.

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits national political advisors from the sectors of agriculture and welfare and social security, who are attending the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing, China, March 6, 2022. /Xinhua)