Nov. 8, 2010

The Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council, or China' s cabinet, issued guidelines on Nov. 8, 2010 focusing on creating a government ruled by law, which requires officials and government staff to improve their ability in addressing "prominent problems" through legal means and invites the public to contribute to legislation.

According to a statement issued along with the guidelines, the State Council said it was "important" and "imperative" to build a government ruled by law, as China now faces challenges, including imbalanced development of rural and urban areas, a widening income gap, an increased numbers of "social conflicts" , as well as corruption and injustice in law enforcement in some sectors.

An official with the Legislative Affairs Office said Monday that the guidelines will further safeguard public interests and maintain social and economic order by requiring stepped-up efforts from authorities to investigate and punish cases that run counter to the country' s mandate for the safe production and issues related to food safety, the protection of natural resources and the environment, as well as public security.

Nov. 10, 2010

The rural land maintenance campaign should bring about higher incomes for farmers and more efficient agriculture and not go against farmers' will, the State Council, at a meeting presided over by Premier Wen Jiabao, said, according to a statement released after the meeting on Nov. 10, 2010.

The State Council, China's cabinet, said the forced eviction of farmers from their homes must be stopped and avoided during rural land maintenance.

Emphasis must be placed on farmland maintenance that aims to improve the ratio of high output farmland in rural areas, the statement said.