Thecover.cn:

In recent years, China's food emergency security system has been continuously improved and has played an important role in addressing various emergencies. May I ask how we can accelerate the construction of a national food emergency security system that matches our status as a major country? Thank you.

Cong Liang:

Thank you for your question. Food security under emergency conditions directly relates to people's lives and social stability. At present, China has basically established a comprehensive emergency food security system that covers storage, transportation, processing, distribution and supply, serving as an important support to ensure national food security.

By the end of 2022, there were a total of 6,584 emergency grain processing enterprises, 4,846 emergency storage and transportation enterprises, 3,542 emergency distribution centers, and 56,495 emergency supply outlets nationwide. Our emergency processing capacity can reach 1.64 million tons per day, which can meet the needs of the entire population for two days.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a realistic test to food security, highlighting the importance of building emergency food security capabilities. Currently, there are still weak links in China's food emergency security system, manifested by incomplete contingency plans, the imbalanced distribution of emergency supplies, and insufficient utilization of resources from existing emergency food processors and suppliers. Going forward, in accordance with the deployments made at the 20th CPC National Congress, we will strive to build a well-resourced national food emergency security system with an optimized structure, wider coverage, more efficient management, and faster transportation capabilities. We will focus on three areas of work:

First, we will improve the food emergency response system. We will push for the revision of the National Food Emergency Plan and guide local governments to improve food emergency plans at the provincial, city and county levels. We will effectively manage and utilize the resources of food emergency response enterprises and fully mobilize their participation in emergency response and supply.

Second, we will address the shortcomings in our food emergency response capacity. We will adhere to the principle of "one county, one policy" to increase the number of food supply points, optimize their distribution, and achieve comprehensive coverage of supply points to address shortcomings of food emergency response capacity at the county level. We will adopt an innovative mindset and continuously enhance emergency food security capabilities in large and medium-sized cities. We will strengthen regional cooperation in food processing capacity, develop urban food supply contingency plans, and conduct emergency drills. We will focus on addressing the weaknesses in emergency food security in special areas and accelerate the construction of a diversified food reserve system to strengthen the material foundation for emergency response and supply.

Third, we will work hard to effectively implement key tasks. We will guide localities to scientifically develop food emergency security centers at the provincial, city and county levels and accelerate the establishment of regional food emergency security centers. We will intensify efforts to optimize and integrate national and local food emergency security resources, creating a synergy for emergency food support. Thank you.