Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao proposes a toast in a welcoming banquet in New York, the United States, September 23, 2008. Wen is to attend a high-level UN meeting for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the general debate of the 63rd UN General Assembly during his three-day stay here. [Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Tuesday that the Chinese government will go all out to ensure product quality, especially food safety.

When answering a question on China's food safety at a luncheon honoring his visit to the United Nations, Wen said the Chinese government attaches great importance to the quality of the Chinese products, particularly food safety.

Wen arrived here Tuesday morning for a three-day visit. He is scheduled to attend the general debate of the 63rd UN General Assembly Wednesday and a high-level UN meeting for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Thursday.

Speaking of the public health scare caused by contaminated baby milk formula in China, the premier said "as a responsible government, we have taken prompt and resolute steps."

At the luncheon co-hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and other friendly American organizations, Wen briefed participants on the measures that the Chinese government had taken to deal with the incident.

"We have ordered all the hazardous milk powder and dairy products off the shelves, and we have also given the order to seal up and destroy the tainted silk powder and dairy products," he said.

Wen added that other measures taken included destroying tainted products, investigating the incident and holding the perpetrators and involved personnel accountable.

The premier said what was more important was to learn the lesson from the incident.

"We need everything possible to ensure the quality of products, particularly the safety of food as this concerns everyone's life," he said, adding that "we should never try to pursue corporate profit or economic growth at the expense of health and life of people."

The premier also stressed institutional building, saying that "we need to strengthen inspection for every link and process in the production, at the same time, we need to make every effort to protect the interests of consumers in real earnest."

"I want to assure you here that we will take measures to improve product quality and food safety in China in a fundamental way."

Wen pledged that "we want to make sure that our products and our food will not only meet the domestic and international standards, but also meet the specific requirements of the import countries," adding that every effort would be made to attain this goal.

Wen also stressed the importance of social ethics and called on both China and the United States to step up cooperation to ensure product quality and food safety.

(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2008)