THE Chinese economy has sustained rapid growth for two successive decades. The result? China now ranks fourth in terms of foreign trade volume, and the country is the sixth-largest economic powerhouse in the world. However. as reform of China's political system plays catch-upwith economic reform, somenew social problems emerge, and in order to solve them, the Chinese government recently put forward a new political concept: to build a society that is democratic and law-based, fairand just, trustworthy and friendly, full of vigor and vitality, secure and orderly, and in which man and nature are in harmony. Huge changes are taking place across all strata of society thatare of specific benefit to China's 900 million farmers.