China now has a favorable food security situation. The comprehensive grain production capacity is on a steady rise. Grain reserves are abundant. Staple agricultural produce is in sufficient supply. Food prices are basically stable. 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. Every year we export an average of 8 million tons of staple grains such as wheat, rice and corn. Our agricultural markets are fairly open with the average tariff level only one fourth of the world's average. We have every reason to be confident that we can ensure food security by mainly relying on domestic production.

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 areas. The international financial crisis has brought us new pressures and challenges. Therefore, we have made it 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 the top priority. We have increased input, enhanced agricultural infrastructure and projects designed to improve rural residents' livelihood, and maintained good momentum of steady and relatively fast development of agriculture and rural areas. These have been a strong support for the stabilization and improvement of China's economy. We are confident that the goal of 8 percent GDP growth for this year can be met.

Mr. Chair,

As a developing country, China has done its best to provide help to other developing countries and contribute to world food and agriculture development. Over the years, we have made contributions to international institutions for food and agriculture and provided emergency humanitarian food assistance to some countries in need. Meanwhile, we have been committed to helping other developing countries improve their capacity of food production with our advantage in agro-technologies. In nearly 100 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Pacific and other regions, we have set up agricultural technology demonstration centers, experiment stations and dissemination stations, sent over 30,000 agricultural experts and technical personnel, and helped train a great number of local agricultural technical personnel.

China will continue to enhance exchanges and cooperation with other countries in food and agricultural development. We are ready to continue to provide agricultural assistance to other developing countries to the best of our ability within the framework of South-South cooperation, including expanding agricultural technology demonstration centers, sending more agricultural experts, offering more agricultural training programs, and providing emergency humanitarian assistance in food. Last year, we decided to double the number of agricultural experts and technical personnel sent abroad and provide agricultural training programs in China for 3,000 people from other developing countries. China has signed the agreement and started to contribute $30 million to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to establish a trust fund for projects and activities to help developing countries improve their capacity of agricultural production. We will as always increase our support on a continued basis for international institutions for food and agriculture.

China is ready to work with the international community to safeguard world food security and build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

Thank you.

Source: www.fmprc.gov.cn