A symposium on the work of the national and local committees on agriculture and rural areas of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was held in Beijing on Nov 9, to summarize the experiences and achievements made in the past five years, and to implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

Gu Shengzu, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, said in a speech delivered at the meeting that the CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to agriculture and rural areas. The 20th CPC National Congress has drawn a blueprint for opening a new chapter in building a modern socialist country in an all-round way.

Gu said that in summarizing the experiences and achievements made in the past five years, the meeting was a concrete action to implement the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress.

He said that the symposium was of great significance and necessity to inherit the historical experiences of the CPC in leading the work concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers over the past century. It was also a significant event to draw wisdom from the past, explore and grasp the rules and methods, establish the direction for future development, and make innovation and breakthroughs in addressing the country's agricultural issues and rural affairs.

He urged members of the national and local agriculture and rural areas committees to safeguard food security, consolidate poverty reduction achievements and promote in-depth reform in rural areas.

The agriculture and rural areas committees have given full play to their unique advantages and made great achievements, which have been recognized by CPPCC National Committee leaders and members, since the 13th CPPCC National Committee. The agriculture and rural areas committees were urged to continuously enhance their ability to serve the agricultural and rural sectors and to strengthen communication and coordination to obtain high-quality performance results.

Luo Zhijun, chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Areas of the CPPCC National Committee, attended the meeting and delivered a keynote report on comprehensively studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, and on constantly making new progress in the new era. Chen Lei, vice-chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Areas, presided over the meeting.

Local CPPCC leaders from 15 provincial-level regions and leading officials of relevant special committees of the CPPCC National Committee attended the gathering and gave speeches to exchange ideas.