Senior members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will meet from October 9 to 12 in Beijing to discuss major issues pertaining to promoting reforms and development in the rural areas.

The decision to hold the third Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee in October was made at yesterday's meeting of the CPC Central Committee's political bureau.

At yesterday's meeting, chaired by CPC Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao, political bureau members discussed issues about pushing forward rural reforms and development as well as the bureau's work since the 17th Congress of the CPC and the First Plenary Session of the 17th CPC Central Committee.

They heard a report on opinions about a draft of the CPC Central Committee decision on major issues concerning rural reforms and development. The members decided to submit the draft to the Central Committee's plenum in October for deliberations after further revisions reflecting yesterday's discussion are made.

The political bureau members decided the country must unswervingly push forward rural reforms and development for the sake of social harmony. In this process, efforts must be made to consolidate and strengthen agriculture as the foundation of the economy and food security must be made the top priority.

The participants also reached the consensus that China should continue sticking to the policy of relying mainly on domestic production to achieve grain self-sufficiency.

The meeting decided the State will beef up support to agriculture, accelerate agricultural modernization, protect farmers' rights and interests, and promote innovation in rural development.