Vice-Premier Wang Yang called for more innovation in developing the country’s supply and marketing cooperatives when he inspected cooperatives in Hebei province during April 16 to 17.

Hebei is the nation’s pilot province of the comprehensive reforms of supply and marketing cooperatives. In recent years, the province has achieved progress in breaking difficulties caused by the system and mechanism.

Wang inspected cooperatives located in several districts and counties in the provincial capital Shijiazhuang and leaned about the details of supply and marketing cooperatives’ work such as guiding the establishment of specialized farmer cooperatives and the development of e-commerce for agricultural products.

The supply and marketing cooperatives should always serve the needs of farmers, Wang said, they should keep making innovation and provide diversified socialized services, to facilitate the transformation of agricultural development modes and agricultural modernization.

The cooperatives should take an open-minded attitude and strengthen cooperation with different organizations and leading enterprises, to improve their competitiveness, he said.

The vice-premier encouraged supply and marketing cooperatives to innovate and explore experience that can be applied to other areas during their reforms.

However, he also said that the reforms should stick to the aim of serving farmers and never deviate from the market-oriented economy.

Wang called on all parties to actively support the reforms of supply and marketing cooperatives, and strive to make them the platforms that provide comprehensive services for the production and living of farmers.