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Bi Jingquan, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission: Multiple measures to stabilize fertilizer prices By Xu Hao Published: 2007-12-13 15:45:15 Views: 262 **Bi Jingquan, Deputy Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a meeting of directors of price regulation agencies across the country yesterday that the purpose of this meeting was to outline plans for price management in the coming year. Regarding agricultural-related prices, which are considered fundamental to price stability, Bi Jingquan stated that efforts will continue to improve policies regarding the prices of electricity and water used in agriculture, and that price discounts will remain in place for electricity, gas used in fertilizer production, as well as railway transportation, in order to stabilize the prices of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers. As for the increased agricultural production costs resulting from rising prices of agricultural inputs due to higher prices for refined oil, natural gas, and electricity, these are compensated by raising the standard amounts of direct subsidies for agricultural inputs. Vice Director Bi Jingquan also noted that next year efforts will continue to advance reforms regarding the prices of resource-based products and environmental protection fees, and special inspections will be conducted in these areas as well as regarding agricultural-related prices. It is also reported that, while protecting the interests of farmers and enterprises, the National Development and Reform Commission will issue relevant regulations by the end of December to address the overheated export of fertilizers.