The Chinese government has launched its fifth five-year campaign to improve public awareness of the law, mainly targeting the country's 900 million farmers.

Wu Aiying, Minister of Justice, said improved legal awareness among farmers was important in the building of new socialist countryside.

She said farmers would be taught laws and regulations which were closely related to their interests, so they could use their knowledge to resolve disputes and be competent in village self-governance.

Wu also asked leading officials, civil servants and enterprise managers to voluntarily study the law, saying public servants would be more responsible in exercising their authority, while managers would be more socially aware and competent in business.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2006)