China

With more than 700 million residents living in rural areas, China is still a predominantly rural country. But despite substantial improvements in standards of living, the Chinese countryside is largely lagging behind. This report analyses the key socio-economic forces at work in China's rural areas and discusses the current government strategy for rural development. It argues that in order to bridge rural-urban divides the current policy approach needs to go further in recognising rural-urban complementarities beyond agriculture and that food-security targets need to be balanced with wider rural development objectives.Tables des matières: Acronyms and Abbreviations Terms in Chinese Assessment and Recommendations Chapter 1. Profile of Rural China -Key Points -Population and Migration -Socioeconomic Trends -Service Delivery: Access and Quality -Economic Structure and Performance -Unexploited Potential and Environmental Threats -Summary -Annex 1.A1. Additional Boxes, Tables and Figures -Annex 1. A2. Measuring Rural in China Chapter 2. Policy Assessment -Key Points -Approach to Rural Policy -Rural Policy and Government Challenges -Annex 2.A1. Additional Boxes, Tables and Figures Chapter 3. Policy Recommendations -Key Points -Multi-Level Governance -Land Use -Service Delivery -Economic Diversification -Environmental Protection -Summary -Annex 3.A1. Additional Good Practice Boxes -Annex 3.A2. Laws, Provisions, and Central Documents Related to Chinese Rural Land Use Policy Bibliography