China strengthens land management in boosting domestic demand

BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Chinese media) -- China's Ministry of Land

and Resources(MLR) said on Tuesday that it has issued a circular with 10 other

authorities to step up land use planning and management after the country

unveiled measures to stimulate domestic demand.

Local authorities should protect the arable land and

farmers' legitimate interests in handling land use applications of new projects,

according to the circular.

Xu Shaoshi, head of the MLR, said the economic crisis

has added difficulty to the country's land management work, as the central and

local governments' investment programs have demand for more land.

The MLR shouldered a mounting responsibility of

combating malpractice in land use, Xu said.

Chinese government unveiled a 4 trillion yuan (584

billion U.S. dollars) economic stimulus package last month to stimulate economic

growth and domestic demand.

The fund is to be spent over the next two years to

finance programs in 10 major areas, such as low-income housing, rural

infrastructure, water, electricity, transport, the environment and technological

innovation.