Chinese telecom operator China Mobile has signed a strategic framework agreement with China's Ministry of Agriculture for jointly promoting digital information development in China's rural areas.

Under the agreement, China Mobile will invest CNY70 billion in the next three years in basic communication network and information projects in these areas. The two parties reached cooperation in five other areas, including agricultural industrialization; information services for agricultural production and management; construction of rural information service stations; information technology applications in modern agricultural demonstration areas; and construction of a agricultural production scheduling system.

According to Wang Jianzhou, chairman of China Mobile, the company plans to add over 10,000 natural villages to its network coverage every year and over 98% of China's rural areas will be covered at the end of this three-year plan.