BEIJING, Feb. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday promised increased funding for rural development this year and make it the first step to bring great change to rural areas.

    Addressing provincial and ministerial heads at a seminar on building a socialist new countryside, the premier said, "Building a socialist new countryside is a major historic mission in the process of the country's modernization."

    He said China should always give priority to building a new countryside and promoting coordinated urban and rural development,which he described as long-term, arduous and complicated.

    Wen vowed to boost the development of modern agriculture and rural economy, giving priority to stabilizing grain production and increasing farmers' income in a sustained manner, while improving the undertaking of education, science and technology, health and culture in rural areas, and grass-root democracy.

    He said building a socialist new countryside should not be interpreted as merely constructing villages, although changing the face of the countryside does require construction of villages and environmental improvement.

    China will allocate more resources to rural areas, including more public spending and improved public services. It will shift the focus of State infrastructure construction to rural areas, he added.

    This year, public spending should exceed that of last year, and the ratio of T-bond and budgetary spending on construction in rural areas to the total should be higher than that of last year, said the premier.

    Wen said increased spending on education, public health and culture should be used mainly in the countryside, while the urban areas should support rural development through various channels.

    China will also encourage the private sector to invest in the countryside, he added.

    Among those attending the graduation ceremony of the seminar were Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong and other senior Chinese leaders, including Li Changchun, Wu Guanzheng, and Luo Gan, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

    Participants in the seminar, which began on Feb. 14 and was held at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, are the heads of provinces, ministries and organizations at this level. Enditem