December 18, 2024 — The China Media Group (CMG) has unveiled the top 10 news stories highlighting China’s commitment to rural revitalization in 2024. These stories reflect significant milestones and policy decisions that have shaped the agricultural landscape and brought transformative changes to rural communities across the nation.
1. Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee
From July 15 to 18, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its third plenary session in Beijing. The meeting outlined comprehensive strategies to promote integrated urban-rural development, emphasizing key agricultural and rural reforms aimed at narrowing the urban-rural divide.
2. Central Rural Work Conference Sets the Tone for 2025
On December 17 and 18, the Central Rural Work Conference took place in Beijing. President Xi Jinping delivered vital instructions on advancing agriculture, rural areas, and farmers’ welfare. He acknowledged the achievements of 2024 and set clear objectives for 2025, focusing on deepening rural reform and enhancing support systems to boost farmers’ incomes and promote overall rural revitalization.
3. Release of the 2024 “No. 1 Central Document”
China’s first policy statement of the year, the “No. 1 central document,” was released on February 3. It called for leveraging the successful experiences from the Green Rural Revival Program in Zhejiang Province to vigorously and effectively drive comprehensive rural revitalization nationwide.
4. Strengthening Supply and Marketing Cooperatives
Marking the 70th anniversary of the All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, President Xi Jinping urged these cooperatives to build integrated platforms that serve farmers’ production and livelihoods. He emphasized their role in modernizing agriculture and acting as a bridge between the government and farmers.
5. Record-High Grain Output
China’s grain output in 2024 reached a historic high of 1.413 trillion jin (706.5 million tonnes), surpassing the 1.4-trillion-jin threshold for the first time. This achievement marks nine consecutive years of grain production exceeding 1.3 trillion jin, ensuring food security and stability.
6. Net Increase in Farmland
By intensifying farmland protection and improving land quality, China reported a total of 1.918 billion mu (128 million hectares) of farmland in 2024. This marks a net increase for the third consecutive year, highlighting efforts to expand agricultural production and safeguard the nation’s farmland.
7. Comprehensive Survey of Agricultural Germplasm Resources
China completed its most extensive national survey of agricultural germplasm resources. Over three years, concluding in 2024, the survey identified the types, quantities, distribution, and characteristics of germplasm resources for crops, livestock, and aquaculture, laying a solid foundation for agricultural innovation and biodiversity conservation.
8. National Guidance on Rural Elderly Care
In June, China released its first national-level guidance document focused on elderly care in rural areas. The plan aims to address the unique challenges faced by the aging rural population, enhancing welfare services and support systems to improve their quality of life.
9. Greening the Taklimakan Desert
On November 28, the Taklimakan Desert — China’s largest and the world’s second-largest shifting sand desert — was fully encircled by a 3,046-kilometer sand-blocking green belt. This monumental ecological project in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region signifies a major advancement in desertification control and environmental restoration.
10. Growth in Rural Logistics and E-commerce
In 2024, the growth rate of express delivery business in China’s central and western regions surpassed the national average. Over 337,800 village-level logistics service centers were established, enhancing connectivity and providing multiple functions to support rural communities. This expansion has been pivotal in boosting rural economies and integrating them into the broader market.
The unveiling of these top ten stories by CMG underscores China’s unwavering commitment to rural revitalization and its efforts to build a more prosperous and balanced society.
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CMG reveals top 10 news for China's rural revitalization in 2024
cgtn.com
