China intends to maintain nearly 100% self-sufficiency in its grain supply to meet domestic consumption, a Ministry of Agriculture spokesman said Tuesday.

The statement is a reiteration of the ministry's position for a domestic audience after Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu earlier this week signaled openness to more agricultural imports from the U.S. while accompanying Vice President Xi Jinping on an official visit.

"We're population-heavy and land-scarce, necessitating the use of our limited resources as a basis to guarantee self-sufficiency in grain and other major food supplies," spokesman Chen Mengshan told local media, according to a transcript published on the ministry's website.

China maintains a self-sufficiency rate in grain supply of almost 100%, he said, adding that maintaining this rate is a policy goal in the central government's 2011-2015 five-year plan.

China has been able to produce more than 540 million metric tons of grains a year because "we steadfastly retain the security of our rice bowl in our own hands, so we can protect and provide our own grain supply regardless of how global grain markets change."

-By Chuin-Wei Yap, Dow Jones Newswires; 8610 8400 7704; chuin-wei.yap@dowjones.com.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 15, 2012 01:08 ET (06:08 GMT)