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China to Further Open Agricultural Market
2002/03/23

BEIJING -- China will further open its agricultural markets under the World Trade Organization (WTO) to increase produce exports, Agriculture Minister Du Qinglin said here Sunday.

At the 2002 annual China Development Forum, which opened here Sunday morning, Du pointed out that further opening China's farm product market may offer larger scope for WTO members to allocate and share resources.

As a member of the WTO, China would enjoy nondiscrimination in trade, which would lead to the expansion of export markets for its farm products. China would take an active part in WTO activities and the lawmaking process since it was entitled to participate in the new round of WTO negotiations and had a say in making new rules and regulations, Du said.

Foreseeing the impact of the influx of foreign farm products, China was taking measures to restructure the agriculture industry and reinforce its status as a primary industry, and divert the surplus labor force in the rural areas, Du revealed.

He said agricultural restructuring should be focused on four aspects: adjusting the layout of agricultural production; improving the quality of farm products; developing the processing industry and increasing the added value of farm products; and pushing forward employment restructuring in rural areas.

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