Improving rural living and the agricultural production environment should be as important as urbanization, although the latter receives more attention because of its importance to economic growth. But for long-term and balanced social progress, equal importance should be attached to both.

The fruit of urbanization is much more obvious, and so is its driving force behind economic growth. That may be the reason why the method of urban development has been adopted for the construction of new rural villages in some places. Villagers were moved into new settlements that have high-rises rather than traditional bungalows with courtyards, and this practice has proved to be impractical.

That may explain why President Xi Jinping said last week that construction of rural villages must be in line with local conditions and take into consideration the practical needs of villagers. Xi also said that long-term hard work is needed to thoroughly improve the living and working conditions in rural areas.