China's grain yield this year will reach a record high, surpassing the 512 million tons that was produced in 1998, says a senior official from the Ministry of Agriculture today.

"We had a rice harvest after our wheat yield achieved a new high this summer," said the official, who wished to remain unnamed. "This is definitely a harvest year for China with a record high yield."

Chinese vice-premier Hui Liangyu had previously stated at an agricultural meeting that this year's grain yield would overtake that of 1998, and reach a new record high.

(China Daily November 25, 2008)