China unveils action plan for improving rural living environment

BEIJING — China's central authorities on Feb 5 unveiled a three-year action plan to improve the rural living environment.

The action plan was jointly released by the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council.

Improving the rural living environment is an important task for the country to accomplish its goal of building a moderately prosperous society by 2020. It has great significance to the well-being of farmers and harmony of rural society, according to the document.

"Although progress has been made, the living environment in rural China is very unbalanced with many areas in the grip of dirt and disorder. It falls far short of people's expectations and marks a key weakness in social and economic development," it said.

The country aims to make remarkable improvements in the rural living environment by 2020. Villages should be clean and tidy, and residents should have enhanced hygiene and health awareness.

The document lists some key tasks including garbage sorting, toilet upgrades, residential sewage treatment and village management.

Eastern China and the developed areas in Central and Western China should fully implement these tasks. In the less developed regions in Central and Western China, garbage sorting should be put into place in around 90 percent of villages. About 85 percent of toilets should meet hygiene standards.

Remote and underdeveloped regions of the country should meet basic standards of keeping the environment clean and tidy, on the basis of ensuring farmers' basic living.

The authorities told local and central government organs to increase fiscal input. Local governments are encouraged to issue government bonds to improve the environment.

Major banks including China Development Bank, Agricultural Development Bank of China, Agricultural Bank of China, and Postal Savings Bank of China are advised to increase credit and loans to support related projects.