商务部发文丨Ministry statement aims to boost goods supply efforts

A shopper buys vegetables at a supermarket in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. [Photo by SU YANG/FOR CHINA DAILY]

A statement released by the Ministry of Commerce on the supply and storage of daily necessities is part of its routine work to ensure the stable operation of the consumer market, experts said on Tuesday.

周二，有关专家表示，此前商务部下发有关生活必需品市场供应与存储的通知，旨在保障生活必需品市场供给与平稳运行，属例行发布。

In the statement published on Monday, the ministry said it has urged local commerce authorities to step up efforts to secure sufficient supplies and stabilize the prices of daily necessities in winter and spring. It also encouraged families to keep a store of necessities for daily consumption and in case of emergencies, which raised some concerns among the public over possible supply issues.

11月1日，商务部印发《关于做好今冬明春蔬菜等生活必需品市场保供稳价工作的通知》，部署各地深入贯彻落实部署，保障今冬明春广大人民群众生活必需品供应充足，切实做好市场保供稳价工作。其中提到“鼓励家庭根据需要储存一定数量的生活必需品，满足日常生活和突发情况的需要”，该句话引发了不少市民对生活必需品供应问题的关注与担忧。

Zhu Xiaoliang, director of the ministry's Department of Market Operation and Consumption Promotion, said there is a sufficient supply of daily necessities, which can be fully guaranteed based on the current situation, China Central Television reported.

据中央电视台报道，商务部消费促进司司长朱小良表示，从目前的情况来看，各地生活物资货源充足，供应应该完全有保障。

The purpose of the statement was to strengthen efforts by local authorities to ensure supplies, instruct commercial distribution companies on sourcing goods, smooth the bridge between production and sales and encourage the signing of vegetable supply agreements, Zhu said.

他指出，商务部专门印发通知，目的在于督促各地保障货物供应，指导商贸流通企业加强货源组织，畅通产销衔接，与基地签订蔬菜供货协议。

Guan Lixin, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation's Institute of Distribution and Consumption, said, "The ministry regularly takes moves to ensure the supply of consumer products and stabilize prices."

商务部国际贸易经济合作研究院流通与消费研究所副所长关利欣表示，商务部每年都会例行发布消费市场保供稳价的工作通知。

Guan said the ministry's statement was a prevention measure to respond to recent increases in vegetable prices, sporadic outbreaks of COVID-19 and the impact of extreme weather. "The move aims merely to better secure sufficient supplies of daily necessities for the people during this winter and next spring," Guan said.

关利欣介绍称，《通知》是基于蔬菜价格波动上涨、新冠疫情多地暴发、拉尼娜现象极端天气或将升级等情况，提前做出的工作部署，并表示“目的就是为了更好地保障今冬明春广大人民群众生活必需品供应充足”。

The ministry's statement asked for better coordination among different government departments and regions to ensure interregional transportation of goods.

《通知》要求，各地政府部门间要做好协调，保障商贸供应网络正常运营。

It urged local commerce authorities to strengthen surveillance of market operations and track changes in supply and demand and the prices of daily necessities, such as vegetables and meat, for early detection of problems and issuing alerts.

《通知》敦促各地要加强监督市场运作，跟踪蔬菜和肉类等日用品的供求变化和价格波动，以便尽早发现问题，提前发布预警。

Local commerce authorities were instructed to encourage big distributors and agricultural producers to cooperate more closely. The distributors were also asked to sign long-term contracts with vegetable and grain growers and oil, poultry and livestock producers.

地方政府接到指示，各地支持鼓励大型农产品流通企业与蔬菜、粮油、畜禽养殖等农产品生产基地建立紧密合作关系，签订长期供销协议。

The ministry also requested improvements in the management of meat reserves and the timely release of reserves of daily necessities such as meat and vegetables to markets.

通知要求，要健全完备本地肉类储备规模及管理制度，及时投放肉类、蔬菜等生活必需品储备，补充市场供应。

Chen Deqiu, dean of the Business School at the University of International Business and Economics, said the ministry's main objective is to boost market supply, as sporadic COVID-19 outbreaks and extreme weather have led to surges in vegetable prices.

对外经济贸易大学商学院院长陈德球指出，商务部旨在全力保障市场供应，以应对多地暴发的新冠疫情和极端天气导致蔬菜价格波动飙升。

Guan said the move is based on past experiences. Effective market surveillance and sufficient market supplies are among the pillars of economic growth and social stability. They also reflect the important function of the government in optimizing public services and making up for market failures, she said.

关利欣告诉记者，《通知》正是鉴于已有经验，有效的市场监督和充足的市场供应是经济发展和社会稳定的中流砥柱，也反映了政府在优化公共服务，弥补市场失灵方面的关键作用。

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, Chinese authorities have acted in a timely way to issue a series of measures to ensure supplies of daily necessities, meet people's demand and stabilize prices. The government typically makes extra efforts to boost supplies during important holidays, such as Spring Festival and the National Day holiday.

疫情暴发以来，中央各部门和地方政府第一时间迅速反应，出台了多项有关生活必需品市场供应保障的政策措施，满足人民需求，稳定物价。此外，政府也会在春节和国庆节等重大节日期间加大供应力度。

necessity

英 [nəˈsesəti]；美[nəˈsesəti]

n.必需品（可数）；必然性

surveillance

英 [sɜːˈveɪləns]；美[sɜːrˈveɪləns]

n. 监控；监管

detection

英 [dɪˈtekʃn]；美[dɪˈtekʃn]

n. 觉察；侦查；探勘

pillar

英 [ˈpɪlə(r)] 美[ˈpɪlər]

n. 支柱；圆柱；核心；（某种精神的）化身