国内英语新闻:Vice Premier urges local governments to improve land and resources management

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Friday stressed the importance that local governments improve management of land and resources, as it remains vital for the stable and relatively quick development of the nation's economy.

Li said China faced the difficult tasks of land and resource management as resources are becoming scarce amid the country's quickening industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization.

He said the nation must continue preserving arable land. To ensure grain security, China set a "red line" to guarantee its arable land never shrinks to less than 1.8 billion mu (120 million hectares).

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (R) shakes hands with outstanding representatives from local departments in charge of land and resources in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 21, 2011.

Li also called on local authorities to step up efforts to protect valuable mineral resources while using resources more efficiently and in a frugal manner.

At the same time, the senior Chinese official said land should be guaranteed for the nation's plan to build 10 million affordable houses for low and middle income people this year.

Further, Li urged local authorities to improve work in monitoring and taking precautionary measures against geological disasters to ensure the safety of people's lives and property.