SCIO briefing on food security in China
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E-mail China.org.cn, October 16, 2019
China Daily:
We all know that China is the most populous country in the world and has successfully solved the problem of how to feed 1.4 billion people. At the same time, as the world's second largest economy and a responsible power, what measures has China taken to expand the grain market opening and strengthen foreign cooperation? What impact have these measures had on the food security in the world? Thank you.
Zhang Wufeng:
Thank you for raising this question, Mr. Su Wei please answer this one.
Su Wei:
Thank you for your question. I think you all will have seen that the white paper "Food Security in China" has a part dedicated to opening up and international cooperation. Mr. Hu gave a brief introduction at the beginning of this press conference. He mentioned that China actively practices the concept of free trade, promotes the development of the grain trade in the world, deepens international cooperation in the field of food and agriculture, and makes very important contributions to maintaining world food security. The main things I want to talk about are three points below:
First, China is continuing to open up. The Chinese government is further relaxing the restrictions for foreign investment in the agricultural sector, and eliminating the restrictions on foreign investment regarding the purchase and wholesale of rice, wheat and corn. The breadth and depth of how foreign-funded enterprises enter China's grain market is constantly expanding, which has become an important force for promoting the development of China's grain industry. China shares its food market resources with the world. In 2018, it imported more than 20 million tons of cereal grain and more than 80 million tons of soybeans to boost the prosperity of world food trade.
Second, China is deepening international cooperation. We are actively responding to and participating in initiatives and activities of international organizations, such as the annual World Food Day and food security publicity. We adhere to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. We also carry out agricultural investments in countries and regions in need, and promote technologies and share experience in food production, processing, warehousing, logistics and trade. Since 2013, we have actively promoted and jointly built the Belt and Road Initiative, established economic and trade cooperation with participating countries, and actively carried out cooperation in the world food trade.
Third, we are actively participating in the governance of world food security. We are exploring new modes of international food cooperation; carrying out all-round, high-level foreign cooperation in food; maintaining WTO rules; promoting a new system of safe, stable and responsible international food trading; and better safeguarding world food security. In addition, China has provided food aid, within its capacity, free of charge at the request of certain countries.
China will continue to open up to the outside world, continuously deepen international cooperation in the field of food and agriculture, and share its technologies, experiences and achievements in agriculture and food with other countries. We will also continue to actively participate in world food security governance, maintain WTO rules, and promote world food security. We very much hope that one day we will see hunger and poverty eliminated from the earth. Thank you.
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