China's summer grain production reached 149.74 billion kilograms in 2025, marking the second-highest output on record despite droughts in some areas, Maierdan Mugaiti, vice minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.
He said that the strong summer grain output provides a solid foundation for full-year food security.
"The foundation for the grain production this year remains solid. Despite droughts in some areas, summer grain production remained stable and realized a bumper harvest, which lays a sound foundation for the grain production throughout the year. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the summer grain output nationwide reached 149.74 billion kilograms, marking the second-highest yield in history, just following last year's record," said Mugaiti.
"So far 60 percent of early rice has been harvested, with a good harvest at hand. The sown area of autumn grains is projected to see a slight increase, with overall crop growing quite well. Summer oilseed crops have increased in planting area, unit yield, and total output, achieving a 'triple increase,'" said the vice minister.
China records second-highest summer grain output: official
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine stands ready to agree to security guarantees based on NATO's Article 5 as part of a compromise in the peace process, according to media reports.
"From the very beginning, Ukraine's desire was to join NATO, these are real security guarantees. Some partners from the United States and Europe did not support this direction," the Ukrinform news agency quoted Zelensky.
Zelensky said Article 5-like guarantees from the United States and from European partners, as well as from other countries, "would provide an opportunity to prevent another arrival of Russian troops." He also called it "a compromise on our part."
Zelensky said he was not yet ready to disclose specific details of the proposed security guarantees, saying they would be known in a day or two.
Ukrainian president arrived in Berlin on Sunday afternoon for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and other European leaders.
German newspaper Bild reported that Zelensky may also hold talks with representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump, but did not elaborate further.
According to Ukrinform, Zelensky said the same day that Ukraine must be prepared for any possible developments regarding elections.
"I asked our partners to assist with the security situation if elections are held, and I said that lawmakers should prepare options for how this could be implemented if the situation develops in that direction. They should work out, in the near future, options for holding elections," he said in a statement in response to journalists' questions.
He said he had received "signals" from the United States and President Trump regarding Ukraine's presidential election.
Ukraine says ready to accept NATO-style security guarantees
