BEIJING - Premier Wen Jiabao said on Tuesday that China should strive to promote agricultural modernization and protect farmers' rights to boost the development of rural areas.

As a country with a large population, agricultural modernization is equally important as urbanization and industrialization to China, Wen said at the annual central conference on rural work that opened Tuesday in Beijing.

Any slight failure in agriculture will hamper the country's economic development and social stability, he said.

Agricultural work is of particular significance next year, faced with the complicated macro economic condition and the dual pressures of a economic slowdown and rising inflation, said Wen.

He said more efforts should be done to protect farmers' rights in land properties, income distribution, employment, social security and public service.