China is often described in terms that have a touch of the epic: it is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world (a 9 percent economic growth rate in 2004, and a GDP per capita five times larger than it was in 1981), it consumes more oil than any nation except the U.S., and it has contributed the most to global poverty reduction (220 million Chinese have escaped poverty since 1978). While boasting impressive achievements, China still faces enormous development challenges, with income growth in rural areas lagging far behind that in urban areas, and its agricultural sector failing to deliver enough food in recent years.

In its recent strategic plans, the Chinese government announced that strong economic growth would remain a priority, but that a more balanced and equitable development agenda focused on raising farmers' incomes and increasing agricultural production capacity would accompany growth policies. To help the Chinese government achieve its goals, IFPRI has increased its presence in and focus on China. "We will provide science-based solutions and advice for reducing rural poverty and dealing with China's emerging problems," explains Nico Heerink, the coordinator of IFPRI's China program.

The program will focus on a number of issues, including regional economic inequality, environmental degradation, the future of small-scale farming, the consequences of China's membership in the World Trade Organization, and the rise of nutritionrelated diseases.The program will engage in research, capacity-strengthening and policy communication activities. "Creating stronger collaborative ties with Chinese institutions and researchers, providing support to policy strategies, and drawing lessons for other countries from China's successful transition are among the program's main objectives," says Shenggen Fan, senior research fellow in IFPRI's Development Strategy and Governance Division.

IFPRI's Beijing office and China program are housed within the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS).The program team, comprised of internationally and locally recruited staff, is working closely with the newly established International Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (ICARD), a joint initiative of IFPRI and CAAS."To be sure that our research and outreach work has local impact, we will produce our material in Chinese, and work closely with the Chinese media," says Heerink.