作业2强化农村公共服务与统筹城乡发展参考译文学习笔记.docVIP

Improving Rural Public Services and Balancing Rural-Urban Development Chi Fulin, 25 March 2006 1. As we are creating new socialist countryside across the country, this symposium is timely and much needed. Our theme for the next two days is “Rural Governance and Township Government Reform”, based on which we will discuss China’s practicalities and international experiences, rural public service and governance, and township government reform. To ensure that realities are addressed, two special seminars have been planned. The first is on farmers’ expectations and grassroots practices, where rural grassroots leaders shall voice their views and suggestions. The second is on institutional innovation, where local and overseas experts will discuss pertinent issues and offer insights. 2. China is en route to achieving complete xiaokang or a society of modest means. Both development and reform have entered a new phase where new approaches are required. So, what is “new” in the rural development programme? It is new because from now on, industry will subsidise agriculture, and cities will support rural development – a new phase, with a new focus. The programme will try to correct the urban and rural system duality, and bridge gaps, allowing rural residents to share the benefits of reform and growth. 3. For balanced development, the key is to reform the rural institutions. In the next years, priorities of rural reform are to protect farmers’ land use rights with new laws, establish a public service system, and improve public governance. Thus, based on today’s theme, I would like to propose three aspects for discussion: I. Expand Public Service in Rural Areas; Narrow Growing Urban-rural Gap. 4. Socio-economic changes are at a critical juncture, and narrowing income gaps is of overriding importance. This widening gap is attributed to many complexities, the crux being inadequate public services and their inequitable distribution. Education and medical expenses gre