As part of a major investment reform, the Beijing municipal government has decided to set the investment ratio for rural to urban areas at a historic 1 to 1 this year, reported Tuesday's China Youth Daily.

In 2003 and 2004, the investment ratios between rural and urban areas were 2 to 8 and 4 to 6, reported the newspaper, noting that the money allocated for rural infrastructure this year will not be less than 50 percent of the city's total.

Municipal statistics show that in 2004, Beijing invested 5.87 billion yuan (709 million US dollars) for the development of its suburban areas, 1.67 times the amount in 2003.

"With the added investment, the situation in rural Beijing is likely to change a lot," said Zhang Fengfu, an official in charge of the city's agricultural affairs.

Beijing is not only home to 10 million urban residents, noted Zhang, but also home to more than 3 million farmers.

"Actually, the farmers have lived quite different lives from those in urban Beijing," he said. "Now it's time for urban Beijingers to help their rural neighbors."

In 2004, the city government adopted a total of 84 decrees which stipulated favorable policies for the development of rural Beijing.

Source: Xinhua