Anti-corruption campaign targets rural development

China's Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Wednesday launched a national anti-corruption campaign to safeguard the interests of rural residents.

The two-year campaign will focus on the prosecution of crimes and prevention of offenses in agriculture and related sectors, according to Hu Zejun, executive deputy procurator-general of the SPP.

Hu urged his fellow procurators to focus on graft and bribery cases and to help local authorities detect institutional loopholes that could allow for the misuse of public funds.

Innovative corruption-prevention techniques are crucial for the successful implementation of the central government's rural policies, Hu said.

In late December, Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a keynote speech at an annual central conference on rural development.

Premier Wen pledged to further improve public services and protect land rights for rural residents.