Vice-Premier Hu Chunhua stressed that work should be done to maintain a stable supply and price of important agricultural products such as pork, in order to bolster the Shopping Basket Project and meet people's demand for products.

Hu, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a national supply symposium of Shopping Basket Project products in Central China's Henan province.

Hu said the Shopping Basket Project is an important program concerning people's lives. Large and medium cities must do more to ensure a balanced supply of Shopping Basket Project products. Self-sufficiency should be improved; production land should be ensured, and more construction should be done at production bases.

The vice-premier urged building up a reliable and coordinated production-sales relationship; supporting companies to set up production bases; and strengthening the construction of cold-chain logistics. Market regulation mechanism for related products should be improved, he said. Reserve tasks should be fulfilled in every region to guarantee the basic living of people in difficulties, he added.

Hu stressed that the Shopping Basket Project is the duty of municipal governments, and the mayors should take charge. They should fulfill the tasks of self-support, connecting production with sales, market regulation, as well as quality and safety.

Provincial governments should take up the overall responsibilities, enhance supervision and introduction, and coordinate products supply within the province and with other provinces, the vice-premier said. Related departments in the central government should enhance supervision and evaluation to help mayors truly accept their responsibilities.