BEIJING Aug 29 (Chinadaily) -- Having an ample stockpile of
food and having had a bumper summer harvest, China is unlikely to be affected
by the current surge in food prices seen in the international market, said Nie
Zhenbang, former head of China's State Administration of Grain.
"China has sufficient grain reserves that have been put
away by governments at all levels," Nie said. "In the meantime, the
country also saw a bumper summer harvest. These things will enable China to
keep its food prices stable."
He made those remarks during a recent interview with China's
Outlook magazine. His words came partly in answer to warnings about the world's
food supply that were issued by international organizations such as the World
Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in
response to the extreme weather conditions seen in the United States and other
countries that produce lots of food.
Nie said China, which produces more food than any other
country, has had a bumper summer harvest of wheat and rice, growing enough of
those grains to meet the domestic market's demand for them. He said the
existence of this sufficient supply will fend off the consequences of rising
food prices in the international food market.
At the same time, he noted that China obtains more than 70
percent of the soybeans it consumes through imports.
So an increase in the international price of that crop could
cause it to cost more in China, Nie said.
"But the general effect on China's food prices will be
small and is unlikely to lead to increases in China's consumer price
index," he added.
0 comments:
Post a Comment