Wen: Rising rice prices "not a major concern"

Despite rising international prices of rice and concerns over food security in other Asian countries, Premier Wen Jiabao said that China's supply of rice is "abundant" and not a cause for concern, state media reported. However, despite noting that China is largely self-sufficient in rice, he admitted that rising rice prices were having an effect on food prices in China. Earlier, China's National Development and Reform Commission said it would increase payments to farmers for rice and wheat in order to boost supplies and combat inflation. That move came after the government implemented price controls on agricultural items in January, which some analysts said could discourage production.