The conference attended by leaders of the Communist Party of china and the central government and local officials in charge of rural work urged efforts to maintain a stable policy toward rural development with the key task of ensuring farmers' long-term legal land-use rights.

Farmers should be considered the main body of the market and the land contract relationship should be respected, the conference stressed.

The conference called for further reform of taxes and charges in rural areas, and reform of grain purchasing and marketing systems.

Effective methods to subsidize agriculture and farmers were also called for.

The country has tried to support agriculture, especially the main food producing zone.

The conference demanded accelerated reform of the rural financial system and improved financial services.

(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2003)