Arabfields, Farah Benali, Economic Correspondent, China — When Chen Hongmei, a corn farmer from Heilongjiang province, watched drones hover over her fields last spring, she saw more than just a novelty. She witnessed the future of Chinese agriculture taking flight. Her experience reflects a national ambition that was recently dissected in detail during a high-level consultative session in Beijing, where political advisors charted a course for modernizing the countryside by the end of the decade.
On July 28, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference convened a special session dedicated to accelerating agricultural and rural modernization. The meeting brought together nearly one hundred members, including experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs, to turn policy blueprints into on-the-ground realities. Discussions were anchored in the goals of the 15th Five-Year Plan, which runs from 2026 to 2030.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, presided over the session. He underscored that since 2012, the Party Central Committee has consistently prioritized agriculture, rural areas, and farmers. The results are visible in the historic gains made in poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, he noted. But the task ahead is equally monumental, with 2026 serving as a critical year for implementation.
A total of 25 members and experts spoke at the session, presenting a roadmap that touches every corner of the agricultural economy. Their suggestions were diverse but interconnected, ranging from revitalizing the seed industry to strengthening product quality and safety systems. A key area of focus was agricultural science and technology innovation, with members urging faster application of research outcomes in the fields. For Zhang Wei, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences who attended the meeting, the emphasis on bridging the gap between laboratories and rural land was long overdue. “We have the technology, but we need to make sure it reaches the farmer who needs it most,” he told colleagues during a break.
The human element was never far from the discussion. Members stressed the need for sustained income growth for farmers, particularly in formerly impoverished areas. They also called for enhanced basic public services in rural communities, from healthcare to education, ensuring that modernization does not leave people behind. “A modern village is not just about smart equipment, it is about a better life for the people who live there,” one participant from a border region explained.
Vice-Premier Liu Guozhong also addressed the session, calling for continued efforts to prioritize integrated urban-rural development. He highlighted the goal of building up China’s strength in agriculture, while steadily improving production capacity and efficiency. Regular targeted assistance for vulnerable populations remains a cornerstone of the strategy. According to official statistics released in early 2026, China’s grain output has remained stable at over 650 million tons for the past four years, yet imports of certain high-quality grains have seen a slight uptick, signaling a shift in consumer demand that the new policies aim to address.
Looking ahead to the next four years, the data shared during the session painted a clear picture of the ambitions. By 2030, the plan is to achieve basic agricultural modernization and enable rural residents to enjoy living conditions comparable to their urban counterparts. This includes a 15 percent increase in the contribution rate of scientific and technological progress to agriculture by the end of the plan period, a target that relies heavily on innovation. Officials from relevant departments attended the meeting to hear opinions and engage in direct dialogue, a practice that has become a hallmark of the consultative process.
As the session concluded, the message was one of cautious optimism and firm resolve. The modernization of agriculture and rural areas is not an abstract goal. It is a tangible project that touches the lives of every citizen. For farmers like Chen Hongmei, it means less time spent on backbreaking labor and more time focusing on sustainable, profitable farming. For the nation, it is the bedrock of long-term food security and social stability. The consultative session served as a reminder that while the path is complex, the direction is set, and the collective wisdom of China’s political advisors is now focused on making this vision a reality by the end of the decade.
