People shop for fruit at a supermarket in the Wuchang district of Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, Feb 6, 2020. (SU FENG / CHINA DAILY)

BEIJING - China is stepping up efforts to keep food supply going, and the prices are expected to remain stable in the following days, according to the country's top economic planner.

"In the later period, we have been able to secure the supply of necessities across the country, especially key areas such as Wuhan in Hubei province. And the prices are set to remain stable," said Chen Da, deputy director of the department of economy and trade at the National Development and Reform Commission.

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"We'll continue to monitor prices and will take measures accordingly to meet the livelihood needs of the people."

Chen made the remarks on Sunday at a press conference of the joint prevention and control mechanism of the State Council in Beijing.

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According to the latest monitoring data, on Saturday, retail prices of rice, noodles and oil in 36 large and medium-sized cities remain basically flat compared to the prices before the holiday.