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Chinese vice premier: China in favorable food security situation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-17 01:50

ROME: Though the international community is under the dual pressure of a global financial crisis and a global food crisis, China now has a favorable food security situation, Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu said here on Monday.

Speaking at the World Summit on Food Security being held in Rome, Hui said the comprehensive grain production capacity in China is on a steady rise.

In China, grain reserves are abundant while staple agricultural produce is in sufficient supply and food prices are basically stable, He said.

According to the vice premier, China's grain output has been increasing for five years in a row since 2004, reaching a record high of over 500 million tons in 2008.

"We expect another bumper harvest this year. For many years, China has been able to meet its own food demand on its own," he said.

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However, "we are keenly aware that China has a large population, agricultural infrastructure is weak, economic and social development in rural areas has fallen behind and there is a growing income gap between urban and rural area," the Chinese vice premier said.

He also said the global financial crisis has brought China new pressures and challenges.

"Therefore, we have made clear in our response to the international financial crisis that in boosting domestic demand, rural areas have the greatest potential; for steady and relatively fast economic growth, agriculture is the foundation; and in improving people's well-being, farmers are top priority," the vice premier added.

The World Summit on Food Security is being held at the headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization from Monday to Wednesday.