BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese leader on Friday urged a state-owned grain and food conglomerate to improve its competitiveness to contribute to a more developed and safer food industry.

During a visit to the COFCO Limited in Beijing, He Guoqiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, encouraged the company to strengthen research and development of technologies to become a world-leading food and beverage producer.

He also called for more efforts to reduce farm produce logistical costs, stabilize food prices, improve quality control and ensure food safety.

The company should take concrete measures to guarantee domestic market supply while enhancing its competitiveness on the global market with better technologies, brand reputation, quality and services, He said.