China has entered a new phase in its rural development strategy, transitioning from time-bound poverty alleviation campaigns to establishing permanent governance mechanisms against poverty recurrence. This strategic shift emerged as a central theme at the recent annual central working conference on agriculture, where President Xi Jinping emphasized consolidating poverty eradication achievements and integrating continuous assistance measures within the broader rural vitalization framework.
Agricultural experts identify this conference as marking a fundamental transformation in approach—from temporary support initiatives to sustainable structural governance. Professor Cheng Guoqiang, Director of the National Food Security Strategy Research Institute at Renmin University, notes that preventing poverty has evolved into a permanent component of China’s rural development strategy rather than a temporary mission. This represents a philosophical shift from ‘problem-solving’ to ‘system governance,’ providing long-term security for rural residents while ensuring the sustainability of anti-poverty accomplishments.
The new strategy emphasizes creating diversified income streams for farmers beyond traditional agricultural dependence. Conference participants advocated for enhanced income protection mechanisms for grain producers through refined pricing policies, subsidies, and agricultural insurance. Additionally, the plan includes improving services for migrant workers and supporting entrepreneurship among those returning to their hometowns.
Dr. Hu Bingchuan, researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Rural Development Institute, explains that with China embarking on its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), sustained income growth for farmers forms the foundation for agricultural modernization and common prosperity. The approach recognizes limitations in relying solely on agricultural production, particularly given low bulk commodity prices and rising production costs that squeeze profit margins.
The revised strategy positions counties as fundamental units for advancing urban-rural integration and rural revitalization. It promotes developing ‘county-level industries that enrich local communities’ through agricultural processing, cold-chain logistics, and rural tourism. Crucially, this approach aims to deepen farmers’ participation in industrial chains rather than limiting them to primary production, enabling them to share in value-added gains instead of passively enduring market fluctuations.