英闻天下——29 Official: Grain Imports Doesn't Mean Food Insecurity

 　　The Chinese government says the surge of grain imports does not mean there is anything wrong with the country's food security.

 

　　China imported over 10-million tons of wheat, corn and rice during the first 10 months.

 

　　That almost doubled the number in the same period last year.

 

　　Bi Meijia, chief economist¹ and spokesperson for the Ministry² of Agriculture, is attributing the surge to consumers' diversified³ demand:

 

　　"People's buying power is getting stronger, so is their demand to different kinds of grain products, particularly a stronger preference for high-quality imported rice and wheat. Also corn, an ingredient for animal feed and an important industrial raw material, also faces tightening⁴ supply as the farming and deep processing industries develop."

 

　　Bi Meijia also says China is still capable of realizing self-reliance when it comes to major grains.

 

　　"According to our statistics, imports of the three products, which counted for less than 2 percent of their domestic outputs, will not threaten the country's grain security and the goal of achieving a balanced aggregate⁵ supply."

 

　　China's grain output rose 3.2 percent year on year in 2012, marking the ninth consecutive⁶ year of growth.

 

　　But, agricultural authorities also admit it is increasingly difficult for China to further expand its farm land.

 

　　This suggests the country has to rely on new technologies to increase grain output.

1 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 diversified   

adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

5 aggregate   

adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合

参考例句：

• The football team had a low goal aggregate last season.这支足球队上个赛季的进球总数很少。
• The money collected will aggregate a thousand dollars.进帐总额将达一千美元。

6 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。