Key issues in promoting rural revitalisation in China

Abstract Since the rural revitalisation strategy was first introduced in the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, government agencies and scholars have put forward a series of indicators to measure its implementation. However, such a large number of indicators complicate the process. The rural revitalisation strategy aims to boost agricultural labour productivity, reduce the urban–rural income disparity, and promote the equalisation of basic public services, thereby accelerating the modernisation of agriculture and rural areas. This paper puts forward five indicators to evaluate the progress of implementing the rural revitalisation strategy. The indicators, though simple, underscore the key issues in promoting rural revitalisation in China. This paper also suggests that the rural revitalisation policy should aim to improve the quality of life of the rural population and promote the equalisation of basic public services rather than to reverse the population flow brought by industrialisation and urbanisation.