Chinese Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu has said the "fundamental" role of agriculture should be cemented continuously while the country is endeavoring to promote industrialization and urbanization.

This is based on the consideration of China's domestic situation, Hui acknowledged during an inspection tour to northeastern Liaoning Province, one of the country's grain bases, from July 5 to 9.

China as a developing country has the largest number of rural population in the world. Many of them are still stricken by poverty.

"The distribution of national income should be adjusted progressively," said Hui, referring to the demand of stronger support for agricultural and rural development.

He also said mechanization of farm work should be promoted actively, using fruits from modern industries to equip agriculture, and efforts should also be exerted to promote agro-technology, cultivate leading agro-firms and provide training for farmers.

"We should try to create a new era that witnesses the mutual promotion of industry and agriculture and mutual prosperity of urban and rural areas," Hui Liangyu said.

China's agriculture and rural economy have maintained a sound development trend so far this year, with a harvest of summer grain and fairly fast increase of farmers' income, the official said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2005)