BEIJING — Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua has stressed the need to strengthen agricultural production, including the planting of autumn and winter crops, to lay a good foundation for the next year.

Solid work in autumn and winter planting is vital for securing next year's harvest, Hu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, told a video conference on agricultural work in Beijing on Oct 23.

While working to secure a bumper autumn harvest this year, efforts must be made to ensure that the area that grows winter wheat will not shrink, expand the sowing area of winter rape, and advance the recovery in hog production to make a good start for the next year, according to Hu.

Hu asked local authorities to make plans to consolidate the achievements in poverty alleviation and support regions that have been lifted out of poverty to seek progress in rural vitalization, as well as advancement in rural construction and agricultural modernization.