Zhang Wufeng:
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, good afternoon. It's my pleasure to introduce and explain the white paper "Food Security in China" to you. First of all, I'd like to express my sincere thanks to our media friends for your interest and support for China's food security endeavor.
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), it has important practical significance to introduce the status quo of China's food security through the white paper; comprehensively elaborate on China's stance and policy on this issue; and then work to increase the domestic and the international community's understanding in this field. With this in mind, the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, and 12 other government bodies have been focusing on the following five aspects in the drafting process.
Zhang Wufeng:
First, the white paper highlights the strategic nature of food security as a top state issue, and reflects the vision of people-centered development. The CPC and the Chinese government have always prioritized food security in state governance. In the early days of the PRC, Comrade Mao Zedong once said that "food in the hand is a relief in the heart". Although great changes have taken place in China in the recent 70 years since its founding in 1949, the utmost importance of food security remains the same. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed on multiple occasions that "we must ensure China's food security so that we will always have control over our own food supply;" and "we must shoulder the responsibility to ensure China's food security." Xi's important speeches above have been taken as the guidelines for this white paper.
Second, the white paper listed the remarkable achievements China has made to ensure its food security, and demonstrates China's confidence in securing its own food supply in a self-reliant way under the leadership of the CPC. Back in 1996, the white paper "The Grain Issue in China" responded positively to the question of "who can feed the Chinese." Over the last 20 odd years, China has successfully delivered on its promises to the rest of the world with our tangible achievements. There are a series of convincing statistics regarding this in the white paper. For example, two leading indicators have surpassed 650 million metric tons. The total food output of China has surpassed 650 million tons for four consecutive years from 2015; and in 2018 the storage capacity of qualified grain warehouses reached 670 million tons. China has achieved a leapfrog of historic proportions - from a society that could not guarantee adequate food and clothing for its people to becoming a moderately prosperous one in all respects. This is not only impressive in itself, but also contributes to the world's development. In the meantime, the Chinese government has never once forgot the poor. Almost one fifth of the world's population has been provided with adequate food and clothing, as well as access to compulsory education, basic medical services and housing. This is a remarkable feat in the world's history of poverty alleviation.
Zhang Wufeng:
Third, the white paper systematically elaborates on the development of food security with Chinese characteristics, and provides the Chinese approach to the rest of the world in ensuring food security. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has established the national strategy of food security, promoting innovation in the theory, institution, and practice of ensuring food security. China has embarked on the road to establishing food security in its own way by steadily increasing grain production capacity; cultivating and increasing farmers' interest in the planting of grain; innovating and improving the food market system. It has also improved macroeconomic regulation; developed the grain industry economy; established a comprehensive food science and technology innovation system; and strengthened management and operations in accordance with the law. This shows a unique form of Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach in this field.
Fourth, the white paper introduces China's successful results of international cooperation on food security, and shows that China has lived up to its responsibility as a major country to ensure global food security. China is an active promoter of free trade. It has worked hard to fulfill its commitments to the WTO, and has spared no effort to promote food security across the world. For one, China sees a further opening up in more sectors. China has rescinded import quotas, permits and other non-tariff measures for relevant agri-products, and has further eased restrictions on foreign investment in agriculture. Foreign-funded enterprises are becoming more involved both in the depth and width of China's food market. In addition, international cooperation has been strengthened. Under the principle of sincerity, amity, righteous idea of moral and profit, China has been actively participating in the governance of global food security, providing emergency food assistance within in its means within the framework of bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the BRI, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and South-South cooperation.
Fifth, the white paper shares China's prospects and policies for food security in the future, and provides consistent and stable expectations for the development of food security. "In times of peace one must be alert to danger," this is a widely-accepted motto in traditional Chinese culture, and has been repeatedly stressed by General Secretary Xi Jinping. Currently, the food security situation in China is generally positive, but in the medium and long term, food supply and demand will experience a tight balance. Ensuring national food security is an ongoing issue. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will implement national strategies of food security and rural revitalization. We will increase food productivity, boost grain reserves, and improve grain circulation, so as to control our own food supply. In the meantime, China will join the global fight against hunger, and promote the sound development of the global food industry.
That's all for the general introduction. Thank you. Next, my colleagues and I will answer your questions.
