China to advance from large grain producer to food industry power: white paper

China will advance from a large grain producer to a food industry power, holding firm its "rice bowl," according to a white paper on food security released on Monday.

The white paper, issued by the State Council Information Office, said China will forge ahead along its own path and implement its national strategies for food security and rural vitalization through sustainable farmland use and agricultural technology innovation to increase farmland productivity.

China will keep to the red line for the protection of cultivated land and continue to improve farmland quality.

By 2022, it will complete the construction of 66.67 million hectares of high-standard farmland, and by 2035 it will keep its grain planting area generally steady.

The country will also improve management of emergency grain reserves to build a food security guarantee system that is more advanced, effective, efficient and sustainable, according to the white paper.

More efforts will be made to build a modern grain market system.

Upholding its red line of absolute security of food and zero risk to farmers from low grain prices, China will adapt itself to the WTO rules, actively and steadily reform its grain purchase and storage systems and pricing mechanisms, so as to give full play to the decisive role of market in allocating grain resources and letting the government play its role better, the white paper said.

While ensuring domestic food security, China will join the global fight against hunger. China will continue to provide assistance to the best of its ability to other developing countries within the framework of South-South cooperation, and promote the sound development of the global food industry, said the white paper.