Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said in Beijing Wednesday that China will increase its investment in agricultural development projects, in a bid to improve agricultural production capacity, promote agricultural restructuring and raise farmers' incomes.

Addressing the first session of the country's joint conference on agricultural development, the vice premier said the central government, local governments, farmers and the private sector should all contribute to these projects.

The conference is composed of leading officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Finance, among some other central government departments.

Hui also called for the finding of new ways to raise investment for those projects.

On the layout of comprehensive agricultural development programs mostly funded by governments, the vice premier said that priority should be given to major agricultural areas and areas producing better agricultural products.

Comprehensive agricultural development programs are important for improving agricultural production capacity, increasing farmers' incomes and ensuring national food security, while improving the ecological environment and promoting sustainable agricultural development, Hui said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2003)