The Chinese government has moved to boost the book markets in the countryside through a series of new policies and measures, in order to meet the growing needs of farmers for cultural progress, an official said Tuesday.

Liu Binjie, deputy director of the State Administration of Press and Publications, said at a workshop the number of books specially published for rural readers is too small, while farmers have to buy books they do not need due to government interference in some areas.

Moreover, the book distribution network has kept shrinking in rural areas and is being hampered by various factors, he added.

The administration will draw up favorable policies for publishing books for farmers and rebuilding the distribution network. He called for joint efforts by governments at all levels and people of different walks of life to reach the goal.

Governments at all levels will continue to help poverty- stricken areas with financial assistance, he noted.

Rural people make up 60 per cent of the country's entire 1.3 billion population, but they comprise for a mere 30 per cent of the book market.

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