From xinhua via People’s Daily Online:
China urgently needs a new rural land ownership mechanism to guarantee farmers’ legal rights and security, according to a UN-China project inked in Beijing on Dec. 20.
Jointly launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Chinese government, the four-year project aims to revitalize rural China by addressing problems of property rights, local governance and the provision of public services.
With initial funding of five million U.S. dollars covering a rural population of 400 million in eight pilot provinces, the project promotes clear, equitable and efficient land acquisition mechanisms, improved local governance, the provision of public goods and services in rural areas and the protection of farmers’ rights and interests.[Full Text]