The central government vowed in a policy document unveiled on January 31 to map out rural land use rights in five years in an effort to protect farmers' interests.

The cost, as high as 150 billion yuan, will be shouldered by both local and central governments.

The so-called No.1 document, issued by the Communist Party's Central Committee every January as its first policy paper of the year, stated that the government will complete a comprehensive survey and registration of rural land use rights in five years. Land in China is owned by the state, and farmers and rural collectives have contracted, long-term usage rights.