China's premier vows end to cheap seizures of farmland

Last Updated: Wed, 28 Dec 2011 04:41:00 +1100

China's premier Wen Jiabao says hundreds of millions of rural residents must receive a much bigger share of profits from farmland seized in the name of economic growth.

Mr Wen's statement made at an annual rural policy conference highlights how acute land problems have become for the ruling Communist Party.

Earlier this month residents of Wukan village in south China drove out officials and protested over confiscated farmland, drawing widespread attention to rural grievances over land seizures and compensation.

Mr Wen said that after decades of rapid growth underwritten by farmland taken for relatively little compensation, it was time for China to tilt in favour of the farmers.

Source: http://www.radioaustralianews.net.au/stories/201112/3398703.htm?desktop

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