China’s central government pledged efforts to continue deepening reforms of the country’s agriculture sector and promoting development of the rural economy in the first policy statement issued for the year, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The No.1 central document, issued late Tuesday, is seen as a key indicator of policy priorities each year. Agriculture and rural development has been a top priority highlighted by the No.1 central document since 2017.

In face of continued economic cooling and rising external uncertainties, “it is of special importance to do a good job in agriculture and rural areas," according to the document, released by the State Council.

In this year’s document, central authorities pledged that China will maintain stable grain production, improve agricultural infrastructure, adjust agricultural industry structure and step up technology development, the document said.

China will also increase its strategic supply of agricultural products including soybeans, the document said. Soybeans have been a major issue in the China-U.S. trade war.

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