On May 6, 2016, a service agreement was signed between the Agricultural Bureau of Minhou County and Dentons Xiamen office, whereby a team led by senior partner Liu Yang was retained to advise the bureau on a pilot project to be launched all over the county concerning powers and functions of collective ownership of assets.

Minhou County is one of the 29 counties to launch the pilot assets ownership reform projects chosen by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Office of Central Rural Work Leading Group of CPC Central Committee, and the State Forestry Bureau in May 2015, after the three agencies consulting with relevant research institutes and gaining approval from the State Council. A decision made at the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee pointed out that the government should protect farmer’s rights as members of collective economic organizations, encourage the development of farmers’ joint stock partnerships, and entitle farmers to right to use, to earn income from, and to quit (while being compensated) ownership of collective assets as well as the right to mortgage, guarantee, and succession.

Government leaders from Minhou County, in order to carry out the pilot project deployed by the central government timely and satisfactorily, had visited a number of Liu’s clients based in Tanjiang District, Fuzhou City. By sharing project experience, Liu’s team showed strong expertise and rich practical experience and consequently gained trust and recognition from government leaders and agencies. Liu’s team said they were committed to offering professional, efficient, and targeted services to the county to safeguard this important endeavor.