BEIJING — China's meat imports hit a record high in the first three quarters of this year, meeting the rising demand of the national market, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

From January to September, total meat imports surged 72 percent year-on-year to 7.41 million metric tons, said Li Chenggang, assistant minister of commerce, on the sidelines of the ongoing third China International Import Expo (CIIE).

Meat imports totaled $23.1 billion in the first nine months, up 83 percent year-on-year, a historic high, said Li at the 11th China International Meat Conference, one of the CIIE events.

China's upgraded consumption, growing population and a proactive import policy will create huge business opportunities for global meat producers in the future, he said.

As the world's largest producer, consumer and importer of meat, China has gradually overcome the impact of African swine fever and COVID-19, and the overall operation of its meat market is stable and better than expected, said Wang Bin, a senior MOC official, at the meeting.

China's pork supply will continue to improve and return to normal levels in the second half of 2021, Wang noted.