Further encouragement will be given to Chinese college and vocational school graduates to work in the countryside, states a strategic document issued on Monday.

The paper, issued by the State Council--China's cabinet--and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), has been dubbed the No.1 central government document. It outlines key policies to boost rural development.

According to the document central government will improve policies and regulations that encourage more college and vocational school graduates to start their careers in the countryside.

Rising unemployment in urban areas has made rural locations a new choice for an increasing number of college graduates. Central government has arranged for these graduates to serve rural development.

In June 2005 the Chinese government issued a document to guide and encourage college graduates to work in rural areas. It set a goal of at least one collage graduate in each village in three to five years.

In Beijing a total of 2,000 college graduates were selected to work as assistants to the village party secretary last year.

The government promised these graduates would enjoy priority in seeking employment in government departments or large companies after three year's of service in the countryside.

The Beijing municipal government announced this month that another 3,000 graduates will work as village officials this year.

The provincial government of south China's Guangdong required all college graduates, who plan to work for the government, to first receive practical training in villages.

Professor Zhou Xiaozheng, of the Renmin University of China, said the high priority the central government has placed on rural development had encouraged increasing numbers of college graduates to work in the countryside.

(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2007)