BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- China's central authorities pledged to continue agriculture-friendly policies, to stabilize upward trends in grain production and to increase farmers' income in 2005 at a central working conference on agriculture in Beijing over the last two days and attended by Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu.

At the meeting, participants discussed the draft of a resolution on agricultural issues by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council.

The meeting concluded that in 2004, China maintained positive trends in economic and social development and made remarkable progress in agricultural and rural development. This year, China experienced increased grain production, a relatively fast growth in farmers' income and big strides in rural reforms.

China should analyze and recognize its rural situation in an overall and accurate way, as there are both achievements and problems. The year 2005 is of great importance for the country to accomplish the tasks for the 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-2005) for National Economy and Social Progress, according to the participants.

In the new year, the government should further reduce agricultural taxes, increase financial subsidies to farmers, invest more money in rural infrastructure and increase financial assistance to main grain-production counties," the participants agreed.