(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-26 19:46

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi said on Monday that international food safety issues should be settled through friendly consultation.

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi delivers a speech at the High Level International Food Safety Forum in Beijing Nov. 26, 2007. The forum opened in Beijing on Monday. [Xinhua]

Speaking at the High-Level International Food Safety Forum, she recognized that gaps existed between China and the "advanced level" of food safety monitoring around the world and called for international cooperation in this regard.

"I sincerely hope that developed countries can provide more help to developing countries to raise their standardization level, improve food production technology and strengthen food safety supervision," she said.

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"We disagree with biased, incomplete reports and pure condemnation that are blind to the facts, and are opposed to trade barriers set for food safety issues and politicalization of the issues."

Wu said that food safety was a highest priority of the government and the country's efforts to improve food quality was paying off.

"The Chinese government, wholehearted in protecting the people's interests, is trying to guarantee adequate supply of food and to improve food quality.

"This year, the government has taken unprecedented special action to ensure product quality and food safety," she said, adding China aimed to set up "a monitoring network" to cover the whole society and the entire process of food manufacturing and selling.

She added that through years of efforts, China had also formed complete legal and standard systems in food safety.

In the first half of the year, over 90 percent of food products were up to standard in domestic markets, while food exports have remained more than 99 percent qualified for years.

"We have every reason to believe China will make new progress in food safety to further assure and satisfy consumers at home and around the world," Wu said.

The High-Level International Food Safety Forum is co-hosted by China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, Chinese Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization.