Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has called for the country's forest industry to adhere to the principle of sustainable development and be based on ecological construction.

In an article to be published in the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's Qiushi Journal (or "Seeking Truth") on Sunday, Wen stresses that the reform of collective forest rights would have a profound historic significance.

The reform would play a great role in boosting agricultural development, increasing farmers' incomes, improving the environment and responding to climate change, Wen says in the article.

In June last year, the State Council issued a plan to reform collective forest rights, calling for the introduction of a household contract system in the management of collective forest land and ownership of woods.

Wen stresses the Party and the government should firmly stick to the plan, especially in clarifying property rights, relaxing controls on businesses, strengthening policy support and providing services to farmers.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2009)