1. The proposal to develop industry, agriculture, and commerce in tandem is excellent; we must definitely follow this approach.
If commerce is belittled and not placed in a leading position, neither industry nor agriculture will be able to develop.
(May 22)

2. To ensure smooth circulation, transportation and logistics must be developed accordingly.
Cities should naturally prioritize industry; however, given the current severe shortage of foodstuffs, it is imperative to emphasize agricultural production in the suburban areas.
By “agriculture,” we mean achieving a comprehensive balance among the five sectors: farming, forestry, animal husbandry, sideline activities, and fisheries. Vegetables fall under farming, while pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits belong to animal husbandry. Aquatic products pertain to fisheries. Livestock and poultry can only grow properly if they are adequately fed, which necessitates the large-scale production of both concentrated and roughage feeds—another aspect of agriculture. Moreover, grazing livestock requires forestland and grasslands, making forestry and grassland management equally important. Thus, it is clear that, in order to secure sufficient food supplies, all five major sectors—agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, sideline activities, and fisheries—are interconnected and indispensable.
(July 4) Printed from Mao Zedong’s handwritten manuscript.


3. A state under the dictatorship of the proletariat can certainly ensure that its people have access to vegetables, cooking oil, pork, fish, beef, mutton, poultry (chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits), and eggs.
We should possess the ambition and resolve to accomplish this socialist undertaking of great political and economic significance, and we should also have full confidence in our ability to do so. Everything must be done for the benefit of the people. It is hoped that after receiving this directive, Party committees at all levels will make careful plans and immediately set to work. This policy should be implemented not only in large and medium-sized cities but also in county seats and township markets throughout the countryside. Party committees at all levels should designate a secretary specifically responsible for food supply issues or assign dedicated cadres to oversee this task.
(July 4) Printed from the original document preserved in the Central Archives.


Notes [1] Section one consists of annotations written by Mao Zedong on Li Xiannian’s report, delivered on May 3, 1959, at the National Conference of Finance and Trade Secretaries of the CPC, concerning the grain situation. Li was then a Secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat and Vice Premier of the State Council. Sections two and three are two passages added and revised by Mao Zedong when he reviewed a draft directive drafted by Li Xiannian in July 1959 for the CPC Central Committee on developing food production in the suburbs of large and medium-sized cities.