Food security is among China's most fundamental interests

Aerial photo taken on March 30, 2022 shows people weeding in a field at Baihu Township in Lujiang County of Hefei, east China's Anhui Province. (Photo by Zuo Xuechang/Xinhua)

BEIJING, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attaches great importance to food security. He has spoken of the issue on many occasions. The following are some highlights of his remarks.

-- Food security is among the country's most fundamental interests. Of all things, eating matters most, and food is the most basic necessity of the people.

-- China should be well-prepared, remain vigilant on food security, and adhere to the principle of self-sufficiency based on domestic grain production, guaranteed production capacity, moderate food imports and technological support.

-- Farmland is the lifeline of grain production and the foundation of the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. Farmland is for farming and can only be used to grow crops, especially grain crops. The strictest possible system for the protection of farmland must be implemented.

-- Party committees and governments at all levels must implement the major policies, decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee on work concerning agriculture, rural areas and farmers, and enhance efforts to ensure grain security.

-- Advancing agricultural modernization requires efforts not only of experts but also those of all farmers. The promotion and application of modern agricultural science and technologies and training of farmers must be strengthened, and all big grain growers must be organized to actively develop green, ecological, and efficient agriculture.

-- If we Chinese people want to hold tight in hands our rice bowl, we must develop the seed industry on our own.