The vice-premier urged that farmers be permitted autonomous decision-making in the areas of production and management. He added that no action affecting the interests and well-being of farmers may be taken without consulting the farmers in question, stressing that farmers should not be coerced or ordered to comply with policies to the benefit of other parties.

Wen, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a conference on Tuesday at which Minister of Agriculture Du Linqing issued a report on optimizing agricultural production.

The optimization of farm production in the country is a major step in the overall structural adjustment of the agriculture and rural economic sector, the vice-premier said.

The agricultural sector needs industrialization, scientific and technological progress, quality, security, standardization, and market service information, according to the official.

(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2002)