China has set specific goals for its vast rural sector over the next five years.

The goals cover sales of farm produce, farm tools, materials and logistics and also the purchase of consumer goods.

The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Tuesday that, according to the 11th Five-Year rural market system plan (2006-2010), 100 large farm produce wholesale markets will be set up as well as 100 rural logistics enterprises.

The sales volume of rural means of production is expected to reach 1.1 trillion yuan in the next five years, according to the plan.

The MOC also said China expects consumer goods sales in rural areas to reach 3.5 trillion yuan (US$437.5 billion) over the next five years with an average annual growth rate of 10 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2006)