China’s Rural Vitalization Strategy Contributes Chinese Solution to Global Rural Issues

“乡村振兴战略”：为全球解决乡村问题贡献的中国方案

 

Chinese Ambassador to Canada, H. E. Cong Peiwu Published a Byline Article on Ottawa Life Magazine

驻加拿大大使丛培武在《渥太华生活》杂志发表署名文章

 

27 October 2022

2022年10月27日

 

“I see new changes of Yanwowan village every time I come here.” That is what every visitor coming to Yanwowan village says. The transformation of the village in central China’s Hubei Province has gone through is largely attributable to the ten-year effort of entrepreneur Xu Zhixin. Ten years ago, Xu returned to his hometown for poverty alleviation. Realizing a sound ecological environment is the most defining feature of the countryside and the most important prerequisite for China’s rural vitalization drive, he started his career from leading the villagers to restore the environment. Xu, who saw the transformation of growth models as the key to shaking off poverty and realizing prosperity, set up mechanisms for achieving common prosperity. While allowing some people to become prosperous first, he then encouraged these people to give a helping hand to those following in their wake. Last year, the average annual income of local villagers exceeded 10,000 yuan. Today, the once barren mountains of the village are home to gardens and orchards. The once muddy roads of the village have been replaced by asphalt roads. With thriving industries, the village has taken on a new look. And the transformation of Yanwowan is just one vivid example of the great changes happened in the countryside of China.

“每一次来燕窝湾村，都有新变化！”这是每一个来过中国湖北省燕窝湾村的游客的由衷感叹。燕窝湾村的变化离不开返乡创业能人徐志新的十年付出。十年前，徐志新回到家乡燕窝湾村开启改变贫穷家乡的扶贫之路。生态美是乡村最亮底色，也是乡村振兴的最大本钱。他带领村民做的第一件事就是治理环境、修复生态。实现农村脱贫致富的关键是转变经济增长方式，徐志新建立起了先富帮后富，实现共同富裕的利益联结机制，2021年，当地农民年人均收入达到1万多元人民币。如今，燕窝湾村昔日的荒山已变成花海果林，曾经的乡间小路换成了柏油大道，村庄错落有致，产业发展蒸蒸日上。这是中国乡村发展的生动缩影。

 

Since ancient times, China has always underlined the importance of agriculture and seen it as a matter of national significance. China believes that issues relating to agriculture, rural areas, and rural people are fundamental to China as they directly concern the country’s economy and people’s wellbeing. To address these issues, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the Rural Revitalization Strategy in 2017. China is poised to basically attain agricultural and rural modernization by 2035. By 2050, rural areas in China will experience all-around vitalization. In the past five years, China has focused on key matters, integrated resources and forged synergies. It has worked faster to realize agricultural modernization, stabilize and increase agricultural production, making rural areas beautiful communities in which people live and work in peace and contentment. China’s achievements are as follows:

“务农重本，国之大纲”。为解决好农业农村农民这一关系国计民生的根本性问题，中国国家主席习近平2017年提出“乡村振兴战略”，旨在到2035年，基本实现中国农业农村现代化；到2050年，实现乡村全面振兴。过去5年，中国聚焦重点、聚集资源、聚合力量，加快农业现代化步伐，促进农业稳产增产，让农村成为安居乐业的美丽家园，取得诸多重大成就：

 

First, the country has made new progress in rural industries, with quality, returns, and competitiveness of agriculture being enhanced. China’s annual grain production has stayed above 650 million metric tons for years. China has improved the industrial, production, and operational systems in the agricultural sector. In 2021, the rate of mechanization of crop planting and harvesting was above 72 percent, while the conversion rate of agricultural processing reached 70.6 percent. China has promoted integrated development between the primary, secondary and tertiary industries in rural areas, with new industries and business models such as leisure, sightseeing, and e-commerce flourishing. Innovation and entrepreneurship in rural areas is brimming with vitality.

一是乡村产业实现新发展。农业质量、效益和竞争力不断提高。全国粮食产量稳定在1.3万亿斤以上。现代农业产业体系、生产体系、经营体系日益完善。2021年，农作物耕种收综合机械化率超过72%，全国农产品加工转化率达到70.6%，农村一二三产业深度融合，休闲观光、农村电商等新产业新业态蓬勃发展，农村创新创业活力不断迸发。

 

Second, people’s livelihood in rural areas has leaped to a new level. China has secured a complete victory in the battle against extreme poverty. The 98.99 million people in rural areas who were living below the current poverty threshold all shook off poverty, while all the 128,000 impoverished villages got rid of poverty. Water, electricity, roads, telecommunications and other infrastructure facilities in rural areas have been upgraded, and basic public services have been steadily improved. From 2017 to 2021, the annual per capita disposable income of Chinese rural residents increased by 28.9 percent in real terms.

二是农村民生跃上新水平。脱贫攻坚战取得全面胜利，现行标准下9899万农村贫困人口全部脱贫，12.8万个贫困村全部出列。农村水电路通信等基础设施提质升级，基本公共服务水平稳步提升。2017至2021年，中国农村居民人均可支配收入实际增长28.9%。

 

Third, the environment of rural areas shows a new look. Green development of agriculture has been significantly advanced. And development modes feature intensive use of resources, input reduce, clean production, waste recycling and eco-friendly industries are in place. The rural living environment and the appearance of villages have been drastically improved.

三是乡村生态展现新气象。农业绿色发展水平大幅提升，资源利用集约化、投入品减量化、生产清洁化、废弃物资源化、产业模式生态化初步形成。农村人居环境明显改善，村容村貌显著提升。

 

China’s rural revitalization is a long-term task with historic significance. And we will work away at issue by issue, year in and year out. The just-concluded 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China last week further proposed to comprehensively advance rural revitalization across the board.

中国的乡村振兴是一项长期的历史性任务，需要一件事情接着一件事情办，一年接着一年干。上周刚刚结束的中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会进一步提出，要全面推进乡村振兴。

 

We will continue to put agricultural and rural development first, pursue integrated development of urban and rural areas, and facilitate the flows of production factors between them. We will move faster to build up China’s strength in agriculture and steadily promote the revitalization of businesses, talent, culture, ecosystems, and organizations in the countryside.

中国将坚持农业农村优先发展，坚持城乡融合发展，畅通城乡要素流动。加快建设农业强国，扎实推动乡村产业、人才、文化、生态、组织振兴。

 

We must reinforce the foundations for food security on all fronts. We will work to gradually develop all permanent basic cropland into high-standard cropland. We will invigorate the seed industry, support the development of agricultural science, technology, and equipment. With these efforts, we will ensure that China’s food supply remains firmly in its own hands.

全方位夯实粮食安全根基，逐步把永久基本农田全部建成高标准农田，深入实施种业振兴行动，强化农业科技和装备支撑，确保中国人的饭碗牢牢端在自己手中。

 

We will adopt an all-encompassing approach to food, develop protected agriculture, and build a diversified food supply system. We will foster rural industries with local features to create more channels for increasing rural incomes. We will consolidate and expand our achievements in poverty alleviation and help areas and people that have just shaken off poverty build their own momentum for growth. We will develop infrastructure and public services in rural areas in a well-planned and coordinated way and build a beautiful and harmonious countryside that is desirable to live and work in. We will improve the systems for supporting and protecting agriculture and the rural financial services system.

树立大食物观，发展设施农业，构建多元化食物供给体系。发展乡村特色产业，拓宽农民增收致富渠道。巩固拓展脱贫攻坚成果，增强脱贫地区和脱贫群众内生发展动力。统筹乡村基础设施和公共服务布局，建设宜居宜业和美乡村。完善农业支持保护制度，健全农村金融服务体系。

 

China’s rural revitalization strategy has not only greatly increased the senses of gain, happiness and security of Chinese farmers, but also contributed Chinese wisdom and solutions to global food security, international poverty reduction and rural development. China is willing to work with the international community, including Canada, to continue its efforts in implementing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

中国的“乡村振兴战略”不仅让中国广大农民获得感、幸福感、安全感大幅上升，也为全球粮食安全、国际减贫和乡村发展事业贡献了中国智慧、中国方案。中国愿与包括加拿大在内的国际社会一道，继续为落实联合国“2030年可持续发展议程”目标、构建人类命运共同体而努力。