Recommendations for 15th FYP cast vision for rural revitalization

Editor's note: Huang Yongfu is a special commentator for CGTN on economic affairs. After earning a PhD in economics, he started his career at the University of Cambridge and then moved on to the UN. His current interests lie in Sino-U.S. links and global development. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP) were adopted recently, according to a communique of the session released on Thursday. The 15th FYP (2026-2030), the latest in a series of strategic documents guiding the country's medium- to long-term economic and social development since the 1950s, will set out sound planning and implementation of the goals, tasks and strategic measures to fully implement the new development philosophy on all fronts and accelerate the forging of a new development paradigm.

During its new FYP period, China remains committed to prioritizing the development of agriculture, rural areas and rural residents, and determined to advance all-around rural revitalization, with agricultural modernization essentially realized and rural areas equipped with the basic conditions for modern living, thereby laying a solid foundation toward basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035.

Consolidating the achievements of poverty elimination

Rural revitalization in China, introduced in 2017, was designed to build on the success of poverty eradication campaigns, which by 2020 had lifted over 800 million people out of poverty. The people-centered development philosophy, one of the guiding principles for rural revitalization, means that a fair mechanism will be established or strengthened, aiming to consistently distribute the gains of modernization between urban and rural residents.

The bottom line to prevent a large-scale lapse or relapse into poverty will be upheld persistently and permanently, so as to consolidate and expand China's achievements in poverty alleviation. In addition, China will refine its support policies for low-income residents and underdeveloped areas by providing portable social insurance as a safety net, greater rural public services and wage-productivity compacts that ensure workers benefit from enterprise upgrades.

For underdeveloped rural regions, targeted policy support will be implemented with a focus on stimulating the internal driving force of rural residents to gradually catch up in the modernization process.

Ensuring national food security

With only nine percent of arable land and six percent of freshwater resources on the planet, China has to feed one-fifth of the world's population. As demand for grain driven by rising incomes runs up against supply constraints from limited arable land and water resources, as well as more frequent extreme weather events, the issue of food security has become imminent, concerning everyone's vital interests.

To ensure that the Chinese population's food supply remains firmly in their own hands, the foundation of national food security should be further strengthened. On the one hand, efforts should be made to enhance the protection of arable land both in quantity and quality, through strict measures such as regulating and monitoring land use.

On the other hand, national food security calls for developing new quality productive forces in agriculture tailored to local conditions, to accelerate the breakthroughs in production efficiency, irrigation, crop varieties, etc. More efficient and higher-yield production models with cutting-edge technologies should be vigorously harnessed to increase the overall agricultural production capacity of grain and other essential agricultural products, diversify food sources in multiple ways and prevent grain and food waste.

Developing rural new quality productive forces

As a key driver for high-quality growth, the development of new, quality productive forces has been made a strategic priority during the 15th FYP period. Solid foundation for new quality productive forces depends on the coordinated integration of technology, education and talent.

Firstly, leading high-tech agricultural enterprises, focusing on the development of smart agriculture and active application of modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and low-altitude systems, should be cultivated. Comprehensive reforms related to lands, forestry, water usage and farming cooperatives should be deepened in a coordinated manner to create a favorable ecological environment for business.

Additionally, a talent pool should be created and cultivated. The key to rural and agricultural modernization lies in talent. Continued efforts should be made to attract college graduates, white-collar talent and urgently needed professionals returning to or relocating to rural areas to develop new forms of businesses by improving rural infrastructure and ecological environment, lowering living costs, providing technical and skill training and addressing concerns such as career development and social security.

Building a beautiful and harmonious countryside

In recent years, China's rural revitalization has gained considerable momentum. Many once-far-off or ancient counties or towns have further transformed their local cultural, historical and ecological strengths into thriving, diverse tourist benefits. This successful transformation inspires local villagers to care even more for their cultural resources and natural surroundings, fostering a win-win cycle.

Integrated urban-rural development is in full swing. Rural regions with suitable conditions are encouraged to establish public charging and battery-swap facilities for electric vehicles, expand cold-chain logistics and instant retail services and effectively manage and utilize the legally owned rural housing through feasible ways such as leasing, equity participation and cooperation. Nearby cities are encouraged to gradually include agricultural migrant populations with stable employment into the scope of local urban housing security policies.

Backed by strong government commitment and continuity, China's rural areas have become even better places for people to live and work.

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