Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday urged enhancing land and resources management to promote steady and relatively fast economic growth.

He said the country should further improve management mechanism of land uses, establish new safeguarding mechanism on land and resources to contribute to steady and relatively fast economic growth.

China's State Council, the Cabinet, approved a general outline for the country's land use plan during the 2006-2020 period in August. The goal is to ensure the proper use of farm land and guarantee a minimum of 120 million hectares of arable land.

Li said proper and efficient implementation of the outline is a must. Relevant departments should also do a better job in mine resources management.

Xu Shaoshi, minister of Land and Resources (MLR), said at a recent meeting that rural collective land must not be used for real estate development.

Xu also called on provincial leaders to abide by the land use general outline, and protect arable land by strengthening management and by fighting land use malpractice.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2008)