730 million farmers relieved of agricultural taxes

About 730 million Chinese farmers are expected to be exempt from agricultural taxes totaling RMB20bn (US$2.41bn) this year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The tax exemption, which applies to 26 of China's 31 provinces and municipalities, marks the first implementation of the agricultural support policies announced by Beijing earlier this year. China has pledged to abolish farm taxes by 2010.