The government is moving to create over 1 million new jobs in the rural area this year by establishing the retail network in the countryside.

The target is to set up 150,000 coutryside stores, 1,000 distribution centers, and 200 wholesale markets in the various rural districts, according to Chang Xiaocun, an official with the Ministry of Commerce.

Chang said these projects are expected to create 1.1 to 1.2 million new jobs.

He said the government is also talking with the country's major banks to provide financial surport to the market network in the countryside.

(China Daily February 27, 2009)