General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered a report at the opening session of the Communist Party of China's 19th National Congress on Oct 18 in which he called for implementing a rural vitalization strategy. Along with the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education and the strategy of innovation-driven development, this is also a significant national strategy.

Xi said that the issue concerns agriculture, the countryside and farmers' livelihoods, which are fundamental issues related to national interests and so should be top priorities of the Party's work. He pointed out that China should give priority to developing modern agriculture, establish and improve the mechanism and policy system for urban-rural integrated development, and accelerate rural modernization.

According to Xi, rural land reform will be deepened, and the land contract relationship will remain stable for a long time. After the second round of land contract has expired, the contract period will be extended to three decades.

A modern agricultural industrial system, production system and operating system, as well as a sound rural governance system will also be established.