Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has urged officials in charge of the nation's granaries to stop misappropriation of grain and to be honest in their accounts.

From Saturday to Monday, Wen made an inspection tour in Nanyang City, a major grain producer in Central China's Henan Province. He said he was greatly concerned about grain security amid price rises on the international market and price fluctuations on the domestic food market. Wen, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, urged local officials in charge of a State-owned storage facilities, to be truthful in their stocktaking. He asked, "Are the figures of the stocks and records compatible? Is there any loss?"

After hearing the officials' reports, Wen climbed up a ladder by himself to check the store.

Reports of thefts from State-owned grain storages have drawn public outrage and prompted official investigations.

China's 1.3 billion people must depend on themselves for food security, said Wen.

He also visited Nanyang's Xixia and Neixiang counties to learn about the realities of implementing government policies concerning grain production.

At the Xixia County People's Hospital, Wen visited a young patient who was suffering from the hand-foot-mouth disease. Later, he visited a local kindergarten.

He advised the children to develop good sanitary habits. "Wash you hands before eating a meal and after using the toilet," he said.

During his three-day stay in Nanyang, Wen also visited a pharmaceutical factory, a rig manufacturing plant, and a company manufacturing explosion-resistant motors.

The premier presided over a meeting with local representatives. He urged people to clearly recognize the problems and risks in the country's generally sound economic and social development.

(Xinhua News Agency May 14, 2008)