The per capita consumption of pork in China has almost doubled since 1990, said Deng Fujiang, deputy director and secretary general of China Meat Association, at the world pork conference.

Each Chinese consumed 20 kg of pork in 1990 and the figure stood at 39.6 kg in 2006, Deng said. The business volume of pork market also rose from 6.2 million tons to 25 million tons during the period.

Deng attributed the rise of pork prices in China since May to the long-term low profit and small scale of pig farms, increased risks of epidemic diseases and booming market demand.

Deng made the remarks at the Fourth World Pork Conference organized by the International Meat Secretariat (IMS) and China Meat Association that began in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, on Sunday.

The pork conference attracted about 800 participants from 38 countries and regions.

Under the theme of "bringing China to the world, bringing the world to China", Patrick J. Moore, president of IMS, noted that the current International conference "is taking place against the background of enormous changes being witnessed in the global meat market".

"Meat demand is strong and growing," he said, "at the same time, international trade in meat continues to grow and is remarkably resilient despite the impacts of animal disease outbreaks and market access issues."

During the two-day conference, issues concerning pork production, pork consumption trend, new technology and new products as well as global pork trade and policies shall be discussed.

IMS, founded in 1974, brings together meat and livestock organizations throughout the world. China is the first Asian country to host the conference. The 5th China International Meat Industry Exhibition shall be held at the same time.