Senior Chinese leader Jia Qinglin called for pooling wisdom and strength of various sides to promote the development of "new socialist countryside" during his recent visit to rural areas.

Jia, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, visited an agricultural produce processing plant, a fruit and vegetable garden, a school and many other places in the countryside of Beijing from Monday through Wednesday.

"Building a new socialist countryside is a strategic measure of our party to better advance the process of building a society of moderate prosperity in an all-round way and China's modernization, " said Jia, who is also Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

He called for studying the recent speech of Chinese leader Hu Jintao on the subject and resolutely carrying out his instructions.

A new socialist countryside should have enhanced productive forces, higher living standards, civilized living style, an orderly and clean environment and democratic administration, according to CPC documents.

Jia called on various levels of the CPPCC and relevant organizations to pool wisdom and strength of various sides to advance the development of rural areas.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2006)