BEIJING - Chinese authorities on Sunday issued their first policy document of 2014, underscoring the importance of rural reform, developing modern agriculture and maintaining agriculture as the foundation of the national economy.

The policy document is issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council every year and has been dubbed the "No.1 Central Document".

The document listed eight focal points for work related to the "three rural issues"-- agriculture, rural areas and farmers.

Assistance and protection for agriculture, the national food security system, rural governance and rural land reform shall all be improved. The rural finance system needs a new, more innovative approach. A long-term mechanism for sustainable agriculture development and new agricultural management systems shall be established. Urban and rural development must be consolidated.

The country encourages innovation with the precondition that a "bottom line" is maintained, the document said, adding it will respect farmers' creativity and support local areas experimenting with measures that suit their circumstances. No uniformity will be imposed while differential and interim policies will be allowed.

In advancing modern agriculture with Chinese characteristics, efforts must be made to establish new agricultural management systems with the focus on how to better utilize the land. The development modes of agriculture shall be transformed to solve the problem of limited land and scarce water. The country must yield more high-quality and safe farm products to satisfy its people.

This is the 11th consecutive year in which the document has focused on rural issues.