China to conduct nationwide check of grain inventories

China will soon start a nationwide check of grain stock in order to aid the government in its future policy decisions on grain production.

Vice Premier Li Keqiang said the examination must be complete and thorough as grain has always been the first and foremost issue to maintain peace and stability in China.

Li added that the government can only make wise decisions on grain management when they know the exact amount of their grain stock.

With China having its fifth consecutive summer grain bumper crop in 2008, grain output also increased 5.4 percent year-on-year to a record 528.5 million tonnes.