China-20 Million return to farming.

CHINA-FARMERS RETURN FROM THE CITY.

Chen Xiwen, head of a government agency to promote farm jobs revealed that 15..3% of migrant workers have returned to rural areas from cities and are now jobless.

"It is fair to say that the Chinese government considers employment for migrant workers a most serious problem" said Chen, adding that as the world crisis keeps advancing and deepening its impact on the Chinese economy "we are beginning to see the consequences for agriculture and rural development".

Chen Xiwen anticipated an "extremely hard" year for the Chinese rural which is estimated in 750 million people

Chinese authorities have made a major effort to achieve an 8% expansion this year which is considered the floor growth to contain unemployment.

Meanwhile the Chinese Finance ministry reported that the budget deficit last year reached 16.2 billion US dollars, evidence of spending efforts to boost the economy.

An increase in revenue of 19.5% was offset by a 25.4% rise in spending, compared with the previous year.

The Ministry said the jump in spending was largely due to relief funds needed to cope with the Sichuan earthquake in May 2008. China also spent billions of dollars on a stimulus package in November.