Rejuvenation of rural areas will not be achieved at the cost of the environment, and it can only be realized through sustainable development, a top agricultural official said on July 1.

“We cannot repeat our past mistakes to allow pollution and then fight pollution in the development of rural areas,” Yu Xinrong, vice-minister of agriculture and rural affairs, said at a news conference at the State Council Information Office.

Authorities will guide the green development of agriculture through the formulation and revision of national and industrial standards, including those on the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, he said.

The ministry will also take measures to encourage the establishment of a number of bases for green agricultural production, including green grain and livestock farms, he said.

The ministry will take more efforts to encourage the development of resource-conservation agriculture, including water- and land-saving agriculture, and will not allow the development of high-pollution industries in rural areas, he said.

A guideline released last week by the State Council, China’s Cabinet, on promoting the development of industries in rural areas specified promoting green development as a major task, including improving green production-related standards, promoting standardized production, and intensifying protection of resources.