On October 30, the 19th Special Study Class for Mayors on Land and Resources Management, themed around coordinated urban-rural development and deepening reform of the land management system, was held in Hefei, Anhui Province. Lu Xinshe, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Deputy Secretary of the Party Group, and Deputy Chief Inspector of National Land, attended and delivered a speech. Lu Xinshe emphasized that it is essential to carry out comprehensive planning for the reform of the land management system—coordinating overall strategies, prioritizing key areas, and promoting reforms in a standardized manner—to inject new momentum into the coordinated development of urban and rural areas.
　　Ni Fakuo, Vice Governor of the Anhui Provincial People's Government, attended and delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
　　The primary task of this study session is to thoroughly study and accurately grasp the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee regarding the reform of the rural land management system, conduct in-depth discussions on the significant implications of land management reform for coordinated urban-rural development and the construction of a new socialist countryside, analyze the current situation and challenges facing the land management system—particularly the reform of the rural land management system—and achieve a unified understanding of key issues. We must actively, steadily, and规范ly advance the reform of the rural land management system, thereby promoting coordinated and balanced development between urban and rural areas.
　　Lu Xinshè pointed out that we must fully recognize the significant importance of land management system reform in promoting coordinated urban-rural development. Deepening land management system reform is an objective necessity for achieving coordinated urban-rural development and represents a clear requirement put forward by the central authorities. Localities have also made positive progress in advancing land management system reform as part of their efforts to promote coordinated urban-rural development. He emphasized that we should take the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee as our guiding principle and steadily advance the reform of the rural land management system. First, we must correctly grasp the guiding principles and requirements for reforming the rural land management system. The Decision adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee clearly sets forth the guiding principles and requirements for advancing land management system reform: We must be guided by the Scientific Outlook on Development, coordinate ensuring development with protecting resources, and further improve the rural land management system in accordance with the principles of clear property rights, controlled land use, efficient and intensive land use, and strict management. Second, we must clarify... The fundamental direction of the reform of the rural land management system is to improve and refine the land property rights system, uphold the strictest system for protecting cultivated land, deepen the reform of the land expropriation system, establish a unified urban-rural construction land market, and implement the strictest system for conserving land use.
　　Lu Xinshè emphasized that coordinating urban and rural development and deepening reform of the land management system are long-term, arduous tasks that are highly challenging, broadly impactful, and strongly policy-driven. It is essential to carry out comprehensive overall planning for the reform, adopt a coordinated approach, prioritize key areas, and promote the reform in a standardized manner. At present, we should focus on the following key tasks.
　　First, scientifically revise the overall land-use master plan to systematically guide and promote the reform in an orderly manner. All localities must, in accordance with the requirements, adhere to the fundamental principles of strictly protecting cultivated land, promoting land conservation and intensive use, coordinating land use across various sectors and types, strengthening ecological construction of land, and reinforcing macro-level land regulation. They should promptly advance the revision of their overall land-use master plans. As a pivotal planning level that bridges the upper and lower levels, the city- (or prefecture-) level overall land-use master plan serves three key functions: first, implementing specific tasks; second, ensuring smooth coordination among different planning levels; and third, clearly defining its own role and positioning. By effectively leveraging the overall land-use master plan’s coordinating and regulatory role in integrated urban-rural development, we can ensure that all reform initiatives within the land management system proceed in an orderly and well-organized manner.
　　Second, we must accelerate the confirmation, registration, and certification of rural land rights to effectively safeguard farmers’ land interests. To ensure the comprehensive completion of all tasks in the Second National Land Survey, localities should strengthen leadership, focus on key areas, and steadily advance all relevant work. First, submit reports on schedule; second, submit reports truthfully; third, clarify property rights. Pilot zones for reform should take the lead even further, providing a solid foundation for regulating rural land transfers in accordance with the law, deepening reforms of the land management system, and protecting farmers’ legitimate land rights.
　　Third, we must grasp the key links and promote rural land consolidation in a standardized and orderly manner. To standardize and promote land consolidation in an orderly way, we must focus on achieving “four guarantees”: First, ensure that farmers’ rights and interests are protected. Second, ensure that the scale of construction land does not increase. Third, ensure that the quality of reclaimed farmland is maintained. Fourth, ensure that land use is both economical and intensive.
　　Fourth, we must standardize the transfer of collectively-owned construction land used for commercial purposes in rural areas and ensure that land acquisition compensation and resettlement efforts are carried out effectively. First, we need to clarify the scope and conditions for such transfers, strictly regulating the transfer of collectively-owned commercial construction land in accordance with the law. In pilot zones undergoing reform and experimentation, land transfers must be conducted legally, with clear property rights and compliance with planning requirements. Second, we must standardize the transfer procedures. Third, we must protect legitimate rights and interests. To further deepen the reform of the land acquisition system, our ministry is currently studying a classification approach for land designated for public welfare purposes versus land designated for commercial use, and will gradually narrow the scope of land acquisition. At the same time, localities must earnestly carry out current land acquisition work, especially ensuring adequate compensation and resettlement for farmers whose land is acquired, safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, and maintaining social harmony and stability.
　　Fifth, we must standardize and advance relevant pilot programs, and actively promote the amendment and implementation of the Land Management Law. In line with the directions and requirements set forth by the Third Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee regarding the reform of the rural land management system, we should deepen the management of existing pilot programs, provide standardized guidance, promote coordinated advancement, highlight key priorities, and showcase distinctive features. All pilot programs involving reforms to the land management system must formulate detailed pilot program plans and submit them for approval as required. We should proceed steadily according to the principles of “comprehensive exploration, localized experimentation, closed-loop operation, and controllable outcomes.” Our ministry will strengthen guidance, conduct timely evaluations, and provide standardized guidance. Currently, the Ministry of Natural Resources is accelerating the revision of the Land Management Law. We hope that all pilot regions will earnestly summarize their experiences and put forward constructive opinions and suggestions, which can serve as references for revising the Land Management Law and formulating corresponding supporting regulations and policies.
　　Lu Xinshè hopes that the participants of the study class will study diligently, gain a deep understanding, and effectively implement the Party Central Committee and the State Council’s series of guiding principles on coordinated urban-rural development and land management system reform. They should connect their studies with practical realities and engage in in-depth exchanges—exploring common issues while also fully sharing local practices and experiences, inspiring one another and learning from each other to further broaden their horizons. Moreover, they should think actively, put forward constructive suggestions, free their minds, speak openly and frankly, offer ideas and make recommendations. Together, we can ensure that this major undertaking—the reform of the land management system—is carried out thoroughly and effectively.
　　This session of the study class has also invited representatives from six cities and districts—Hefei in Anhui Province, Chengdu in Sichuan Province, Jiaxing in Zhejiang Province, Xinxiang in Henan Province, Foshan in Guangdong Province, and Jiulongpo District in Chongqing—to share their approaches and experiences in coordinated urban-rural development. In addition, heads and experts from relevant departments and units within the ministry will provide lectures on the theoretical and practical knowledge related to land management system reform, and participants will engage in discussions on current hot topics and challenging issues in deepening the reform of the land management system. During this period, field visits to relevant sites in Hefei and Wuhu will also be organized.
　　Representatives from the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, the National Development and Reform Commission, and relevant departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, along with leading officials from the municipal (prefecture- and state-level) governments and land and resources departments of 28 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities across the country, as well as leading officials from the governments and land and resources departments of various cities in Anhui Province, officials from relevant bureaus and directly affiliated units of the Ministry of Natural Resources, and officials from the State Land Supervision Bureaus stationed locally—more than 120 people in total—will participate in a five-day seminar and exchange event. (Reporters: Lü Yuanjuan, Zhou Huailong, Ni Mingfang)