China to expand agricultural trade while ensuring food security

China will expand high-level opening-up in agriculture and deepen its participation in global farm product trade, while firmly safeguarding national food security, a senior official said in a recent interpretation of this year’s No 1 central document.

Han Wenxiu, director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, said China will make better use of both domestic and international markets, coordinating agricultural production and trade to ensure a stable supply at home and the sustainable development of farm trade.

“While prioritizing domestic production to ensure food security, China has actively imported agricultural products from overseas,” Han said.

China is the world’s second-largest importer of agricultural products, with imports reaching $207.4 billion in 2025.

Imports such as soybeans, meat, dairy products, fresh and dried fruits, and wine have helped address structural gaps between domestic supply and demand, enriching Chinese consumers’ food choices and providing vast market opportunities for both developing and developed countries, he said.

According to data released by the General Administration of Customs, China’s soybean imports reached 111.83 million tons in 2025, up 6.5 percent from 2024.

In recent years, many imported agricultural and food products showcased at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai have become popular and best-selling items among Chinese consumers, he added.

“China will actively expand high-level opening-up, including in agriculture, deepen participation in global agricultural trade, and increase imports of products that are in short supply domestically,” Han said.

At the same time, the pace and scale of imports will be managed to safeguard food security and ensure the stable and healthy development of domestic industries and markets, Han said.

He noted that since last year, China has introduced a series of relief measures for sectors, such as beef production, that have been more affected by imports.

The country will diversify agricultural imports and work with partners worldwide to share opportunities and achieve common development, he added.