A national conference on promoting social etiquette and civility in rural areas opens on Thursday in Linyi, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
A national conference on promoting social etiquette and civility in rural areas opened on Thursday in Linyi, Shandong province, bringing together officials, experts, and grassroots practitioners to share experiences and chart the way forward for building better rural communities.
Rural civility refers to the positive social norms, ethical values, and civilized customs that take shape in rural areas. It is considered vital to the all-round revitalization of rural areas and the overall progress of society.
Now in its second year, the two-day conference will also feature parallel sessions in five villages administered by Linyi, covering topics including preserving fine farming civilization and promoting rural cultural prosperity.
Key outcomes were unveiled at the main session on Thursday, including selected case studies of rural civility development and this year's national report on rural civility construction.
The report detailed the progress made in protecting and inheriting fine traditional culture. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has so far listed 188 items that qualify as important agricultural heritage systems. The country has 25 sites recognized on the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations' Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems list, more than any other country. A total of 8,155 villages have been included in the national protection list for traditional Chinese villages.
Visitors view photos and exhibits related to rural life during a national conference on promoting social etiquette and civility in rural areas, which opened on Thursday in Linyi, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Public cultural services in rural areas have also expanded. Opera performances, rural reading campaigns, and mass sporting events have gained wide followings. Village-branded events such as Village BA basketball games and Village Evening Galas have drawn particularly large audiences. The sixth National Village Run, held last year, attracted 20,000 amateur runners and generated a direct economic impact of more than 60 million yuan ($8.87 million).
"These events are created by farmers, performed by farmers, and enjoyed by farmers," the report said. "They have turned rural residents from spectators into leading actors, boosting their pioneering spirit, local identity, and cultural confidence."
Beyond culture, the report highlighted broader progress in rural development. Last year, China's total grain output remained above 700 billion kilograms for the second straight year. Rural per capita disposable income has grown by 1.9 times since 2012, with steady improvements in infrastructure, living environments, and public services across the countryside.
