国内英语新闻:Li Keqiang calls for modern agriculture development

HARBIN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has urged efforts to push forward comprehensive reforms in the country's first approved pilot sites of agricultural modernization.

Li made the call during an inspection tour that took him to the cities of Tongjiang, Fuyuan and Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province from Nov. 4 to Nov. 6.

He stressed the importance of deepening reform in accelerating modern agriculture, which calls for innovation in agricultural production and operational systems, making sure that rural people's rights and interests are preserved.

The Premier visited Hongqi Village in Fuyuan and inspected arable land and a modern farm machinery center which provides services for thousands of farmers.

He praised the pioneering spirit and encouraged local farmers and government to work out a proper model in developing modern agriculture in accordance with local conditions.

Li also inspected the harvest and storage of autumn grain crops at Nongqiao grain depot in Fuyuan, where he stressed the role of a logistics network for farm produce in supporting modern agriculture.

He urged the public and governments at all levels to strive for better market regulations and price controls so as to realize food security.

In April, the State Council, China's cabinet, rolled out its first major reform in the sector, experimenting with schemes to accelerate modern agriculture.

The development of modern agriculture practices is "an important strategic mission" that will sustain economic growth, increase income for farmers and improve people's well-being, according to a statement issued by the State Council in April after an executive meeting presided over by Li.

The experiments are restricted to Heilongjiang Province, one of the country's top grain production regions in northeast China.

Large-scale farming is supported by the government, as farmers are encouraged to grow their joint partnerships, family farms or cooperatives.

The government pledged deeper reforms in the rural land management system to speed up the transfer of land to improve efficiency and promote large-scale commercial farming.

The government also vowed to improve financial services in rural areas, increase compensation for major grain-producing regions and boost agriculture-related technological innovation.

During the inspection tour, Li also visited local villagers affected by summer floods and told the local government to guarantee that people will be safe and warm this winter.

Floods in August in Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces in northeast China were the worst to hit the region in more than a decade.