Rural areas benefit from gov't preferential policies

China launched a raft of preferential policies for rural areas this year amid the global financial crisis. The policies boosted grain prices and helped make auto and home appliance purchases more affordable.

On January 14th this year, the State Council issued a plan for reinforcing the auto industry. Under the plan, the government set aside 5 billion yuan to subsidize farmers' purchasing goods and vehicles.

On February 1st, the Central Government released its first document of the year. Focusing on the development of rural areas, the document proposed measures to direct agricultural development and protect farmers' interests. These included providing more subsidies and increasing grain purchasing prices.

On the same day, the country launched its campaign to promote sales of home appliances in rural areas. Subsidies were offered in eight categories of home appliances.

On February 27th, the Ministry of Commerce announced it would improve the network for rural consumption. It planned to set up and renovate 150-thousand convenience stores, as well as a thousand distribution centers. The scheme aimed to create jobs for 1 million rural workers.

On August 4th, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security drafted a new social security system for rural areas. The move provided pensions to farmers aged over 60.

On October 12th, the State Council raised next year's wheat purchasing prices by 0.06 yuan per kilogram.

On December 2nd, the State Council also decided to gradually waive tuition for middle school students from low-income families in rural areas.

On December 9th, plans were unveiled to further boost consumption. These included continuing subsidies for machine sales in rural areas. The Government also pledged to continue subsidies for vehicles next year.

And most recently on December 22nd, the State Council announced that social securities can be transferred between different cities for employees including migrant workers. This will begin at the start of 2010.