Anchoring comprehensive rural revitalization through industrial development

Editor's note: Zhou Yanni is a doctoral candidate at the College of Economics & Management, China Agricultural University. Li Chunding is a professor of the College of Economics & Management, China Agricultural University. The views expressed in this article are the authors' own and do not necessarily reflect those of CGTN.

Advancing comprehensive rural revitalization fundamentally depends on industrial development. At the current stage of implementing China's rural revitalization strategy, industrial revitalization is not only a vital lever for increasing farmers' incomes but also a foundational pathway for strengthening endogenous growth momentum in rural areas and consolidating the material basis of rural modernization. Experience has demonstrated that only by placing industrial revitalization at the center of rural development efforts — and by systematically upgrading rural industries — can solid and sustained support be provided for agricultural and rural modernization, as well as for the broader process of Chinese modernization.

Recognizing the foundational role of industrial revitalization and identifying new features and trends in rural industrial development

China's rural industries are currently undergoing a profound transformation. Overall, development is shifting from a phase of "laying the groundwork" to one of "systematic advancement," and from extensive, scale-driven expansion toward quality-oriented growth. This transformation is reflected in several key dimensions.

Firstly, the industrial foundation has become more robust, with the focus of development moving from the question of "whether industries exist" to "whether the industries are strong." As the achievements of poverty alleviation continue to be consolidated, the underlying base of rural industries has grown more stable. Local governments are no longer content with simply launching projects or expanding capacity, but increasingly prioritize industrial sustainability, long-term viability, and the ability to generate broader spillover effects.

Secondly, specialization and differentiation have become more pronounced features of rural industrial development. By leveraging local resource endowments and comparative advantages, regions across the country have deepened the development of specialized agricultural production, distinctive local products, and regional brands. A growing number of rural industries with strong local characteristics and market potential have emerged as key drivers of income growth and community development, marking a transition from homogeneous competition toward differentiated and complementary development paths.

Thirdly, industrial forms have become increasingly diversified, accompanied by a clear trend toward integrated development. Linkages between agriculture and processing, distribution, and service sectors have continued to strengthen. New business models — including agricultural product processing, rural tourism, and e-commerce — have expanded rapidly, enabling rural industries to evolve from single-function production activities toward more comprehensive and multifunctional systems.

Fourthly, the level of industrial organization has improved significantly. New types of agricultural business entities have expanded steadily, production and management models have undergone accelerated transformation, and farmers now participate in industrial development through more diversified channels. Together, these changes have provided a more solid organizational foundation for advancing industrial revitalization.

Adapting to emerging trends and exploring pathways toward high-quality rural industrial development

At this new stage, promoting rural industrial revitalization requires adapting to evolving development trends and identifying appropriate pathways for upgrading industrial development models in a systematic manner.

On the one hand, development must shift from fragmented, project-based approaches toward integrated, value-chain-oriented development. Individual projects alone are insufficient to sustain long-term rural growth. Instead, industries must be planned and cultivated within complete industrial chains, fostering coordination across production, processing, circulation, and service segments in order to enhance industrial stability and resilience.

On the other hand, development must move from reliance on factor-driven expansion toward growth driven by quality and efficiency. Rural industrial development can no longer depend primarily on traditional inputs such as land and labor. Greater emphasis should instead be placed on standardization, branding, and market-oriented operations, with value enhancement achieved through improvements in product quality and service capacity.

At the same time, the development model must transition from single-actor promotion to multi-stakeholder collaboration. Governments should focus on strategic guidance and public service provision, while market mechanisms play a more decisive role in resource allocation. Enterprises, cooperatives, and farmers should work in coordination to place rural industries on a virtuous and sustainable development trajectory. Taken together, these pathways aim to propel rural industries from primary forms of development toward high-quality growth, ensuring that industrial revitalization serves as a stable pillar of comprehensive rural revitalization.

Focusing on industrial revitalization as a key lever to consolidate foundations of comprehensive rural revitalization

Fully realizing the foundational role of industrial revitalization in comprehensive rural revitalization requires sustained efforts in several critical areas — namely, extending industrial chains, upgrading value chains, and improving mechanisms that link farmers' interests to industrial development.

Extending industrial chains is an important means of enhancing the overall efficiency of rural industries. By expanding agricultural product processing, cold-chain logistics, and diversified service activities, agriculture can transition from selling raw materials to supplying processed products and branded goods. This shift will not only improve resource utilization efficiency but also strengthen market competitiveness.

Upgrading value chains constitutes the core task in advancing the quality of rural industries. Through the establishment of standards, the development of strong brands, and improved market access, rural industries can be embedded in higher-tier value systems, enabling a gradual transition from low value-added segments toward mid- and high-end activities.

Improving interest-linkage mechanisms is essential to ensuring that the benefits of industrial revitalization are broadly shared. Through diversified organizational arrangements, farmers can be encouraged to participate in industrial development in multiple ways — becoming not only producers, but also beneficiaries of value-added gains. This helps shift income growth from short-term increases toward more stable and sustainable improvement.

By advancing these three dimensions in a coordinated manner, industrial revitalization can more effectively promote higher agricultural efficiency, greater rural vitality, and rising farmers' incomes, thereby providing solid and enduring momentum for comprehensive rural revitalization.