Prime Minister Zhu Rongji has closed China's annual two-week session of Parliament in Beijing, saying the country's greatest challenge is to ease the grinding poverty of 800 million farmers. 

In what could be his last news conference before a crucial leadership transition later this year, Mr. Zhu told reporters in Beijing that the government has made great progress in carrying out economic reforms during his four-year term. 

He listed streamlining unprofitable state companies, cutting a bloated bureaucracy and boosting the standard of living for many civil servants and retirees. 

However, Mr. Zhu said his greatest concern is how to raise 800 million rural Chinese out of poverty. He said China's rapid economic growth has not extended to farmers, who supply more agricultural products than are in demand, driving down prices. 

Mr. Zhu warned that that the problem will only worsen after China's entry into the World Trade Organization. He said China is bracing for a flood of cheap farm products from the United States as a result of lower tariffs mandated by the WTO. 

The Prime Minister is to step down from his Communist Party post this year, and from his government post next year. 

Mr. Zhu brushed aside several questions about who will succeed him when he retires next year. He urged reporters to be patient, saying the answer would be known fairly soon. 

Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AFP.

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