(Yicai Global) Feb. 20 - China promulgated its "No.1 central document" for 2019 on Tuesday. It called for greater efforts to prioritize the development of agriculture and rural areas, and seek progress in work relating to agriculture, rural areas and rural people.

This year and the next will mark a decisive period for completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and quite a few tough tasks must be fulfilled in the fields relating to agriculture, rural areas and people, said a document jointly released by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council.

The "No. 1 central document" is the name traditionally given to the first policy statement released by the central authorities of the year, and is regarded as an indicator of policy priorities.

 Committed efforts must be made to ensure that addressing the agricultural and rural issues enjoy a central place on the work agenda of the CPC, the document said.

The country should consolidate the sound momentum for agricultural and rural development, capitalize on the role of agriculture, rural areas and rural people as the ballast stone, and win the upper hand in effectively handling risks and challenges, it added. 

This is the 16th year in a row that the "No. 1 central document" has been devoted to agriculture, farmers and rural areas.