At its executive meeting on Dec 13, the State Council, China's Cabinet, decided to further promote agricultural development by cultivating new agricultural operating entities.

The new agricultural operating entities to be cultivated include professional farmers, family farms, rural cooperatives and agricultural industrialized leading enterprises.

The general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council jointly issued a document to cultivate these new types of agricultural operating entities on May 31. The decision by the State Council this time pointed out that cultivating a new type of agricultural operating entity and accelerating the development of modern agriculture is an important part of the rejuvenation strategy for rural areas.

A number of projects are to be launched to promote connections between smallholder production and modern agricultural development. And training programs will also be launched to nurture professional farmers, and promote rural and agricultural innovation and startups.

In addition, a series of preferential policies, including fiscal support, preferential tax rates and preferential electricity prices will be offered to support the development of a new type of agricultural operating entity.