In a circular released on Nov 16, the General Office of the State Council approved establishing the inter-ministerial joint conference system on piloting the extension of China’s second round of rural land contracts by another 30 years.

With its office set at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) for routine operations, the joint conference will be responsible for organizing and guiding tasks for extending land contracts.

Other duties of the conference include carrying out surveys and research into key issues in the pilot work, coordinating the settlement of difficulties and problems that occur, overseeing and inspecting its implementation, and creating a sound policy environment for the work.

Led by MARA and the office of the central rural work leading group, the joint conference also includes five other agencies, such as the Ministry of Justice, with heads of MARA and the office serving as conveners.