国内英语新闻:Political advisors discuss food safety

BEIJING, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's national political advisors met on Thursday to discuss how to improve the nation's food safety supervision and management system.

The meeting was presided over by Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body.

Political advisors agreed that food safety has improved in recent years, but problems concerning the supervision and management remain.

Since March 2013, members of the CPPCC National Committee have put forward about 261 proposals related to food safety.

At Thursday's meeting, some political advisors said food safety was one of the public's top concerns and suggested that governments at all levels channel more money, staff and equipment to the cause.

Some called on authorities to improve legislation in this area and give harsher punishments for trade or manufacturing of substandard food products.

Political advisors also suggested that supervision should be improved over farm products, better training be offered to staff in the food industry and the involvement of third-party supervisory agencies.