New rural revitalization plan targets major progress on rural reform by 2027

On Wednesday, the Party Central Committee and State Council unexpectedly issued a Comprehensive Rural Revitalization Plan (2024-2027).

• The plan has been quietly circulating among local governments since November (Zhejiang Gov).

Some context: Xi Jinping introduced his rural revitalization strategy at the 19th Party Congress in 2017.

• As the heir apparent to Xi’s poverty alleviation push, rural revitalization involves reforms to remove constraints on land, talent, and capital flowing into the rural economy, as well as the upscaling of rural industries.

The plan sets ambitious – though qualitative – targets, including:

• Making significant progress toward urbanizing migrant workers and ensuring urban public services cover everyone who permanently resides in cities
• Protecting the farm and homestead land rights of rural residents who settle in cities
• Piloting compensation schemes for folks who want to switch to urban residency
• Expanding efforts to allow rural residents to rent out their houses and to develop homestead land in partnership with rural collectives
• Ensuring provinces allocate construction land for rural and agricultural facilities and coordinate urban and rural planning

Get smart: Xi views rural development as central to his legacy – and crucial to achieving the Party’s centenary goal, which is now just 25 years away.

• The targets outlined here are increasingly non-negotiable for local officials and cadres.

Get smarter: The plan spans only three years, ending in 2027, when the 21st Party Congress will be held.

• The short timeframe increases the pressure to deliver and could herald a significant new round of rural reform.