国内英语新闻:Chinese premier stresses autumn, winter grain production

BEIJING, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday stressed the growing of autumn and winter crops at an executive meeting of the State Council.

    The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council would continue to strengthen the fundamental status of agriculture and boost the support for agriculture and grain output, according to the meeting.

    All provincial areas and departments should put into practice the central government's policies, especially policies for the benefits of farmers, according to the meeting.

    Despite uncommon droughts and the global economic recession, China was expected to have a big harvest this year, underpinning the country's stable and fast economic growth, according to the meeting.

    Although China reported grain output increase for continuous years, the relationship between grain demand and supply would be strained in the long run as China's infrastructure for grain output was not stable, the grain planting efficiency was relatively low and natural disasters were frequent, according to the meeting.

    Autumn and winter planting was key to next summer's harvest and even next year's harvest and measures should be taken to promote grain output, according to the meeting.

    The measures should include promoting subsidy policies and stabilizing autumn and winter planting acreage, stabilizing market prices to protect farmers' interests and promoting technology services for farmers, according to the meeting.