Premier Wen Jiabao has pledged that his government will extend further support to poor areas inhabited by ethnic minorities.

"All ethnic groups form one big family. We must be united and help each other, to prosper and progress together," Wen told farmers of the Jingpo minority during a visit to the Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture in Yunnan province.

Wen's trip to Yunnan from March 31 to April 1 took place after he attended the third summit of the Greater Mekong Subregion held in Vientiane, capital of Laos. Yunnan has the largest number of ethnic minority groups among all Chinese regions.

Wen told farmers in Dai, Jingpo and De'ang villages that his new Cabinet has decided to increase rural spending by 25 billion yuan ($3.56 billion).

The government will also increase subsidies for cereal-growing and farming machines, as well as the minimum State-purchasing prices for rice and wheat, Wen said in a Dai village while greeting local farmers in the Dai language.

At the Santaishan Jingpo village, farmer Ding Kongdao told Wen that although he no longer worries about food and basic medical care, it is still hard to earn cash in such a remote mountainous area.

In response, the premier said villagers should be relocated to places where life is easier, and that small water conservation projects should be built to water crops.

He also suggested that farmers grow cash crops such as coffee and banana, in addition to rice and sugar cane. Local governments should also help villagers find jobs in cities.

Wen urged local officials to make education their top priority, saying that education is the foundation for people to improve their lives.