Thanks to countermeasures adopted in its first year of membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO), China was able to export 200,000 tons of top-grade wheat in 2002, an historic breakthrough, Du said.

Meanwhile, corn exports had reached 9.77 million tons by November, jumping 83 percent year-on-year, the latest customs statistics show.

Though figures on agricultural exports for the whole year of 2002 are not available, the volume had already exceeded US$12.62 billion by September, leaving a surplus of US$3.88 billion, according to the ministry.

China planted 666,600 hectares of soybeans in its Northeast region last year. Per-hectare yield reached 2,617.5 kilograms, higher than in the United States, the ministry said.

Heartened by the success stories of 2002, Du vowed to continue sharpening the competitive edge of Chinese farm-produce industry and add to the coffers of farmers in the new year.

This includes efforts to optimize the crop-growing mix, improve production quality controls and promote science and technology in the farming sector, he said.

(People's Daily January 11, 2003)