Genetically modified (GM) foods still have a long way to go before they reach the Chinese market even though the Ministry of Agriculture has certificated two strains of GM rice, a senior rural affairs official said on Wednesday.

Before reaching the shelves, the products need to be certified by government agencies from the health and quality inspection sectors, Chen Xiwen, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and deputy director of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, said during a panel discussion in Beijing.

Any of these agencies might stop the GM rice from entering the market, he said.

"As a country with a huge population to feed, China should maintain its leading role in the research of advanced agricultural technology," Chen said, adding that the country needs to be prudent in GM production.

GM safety is a hot issue at the NPC and CPPCC sessions, under way in the capital.

In November, the Ministry of Agriculture granted bio-safety certificates to two pest-resistant GM rice varieties and corn - a major step in promoting the research and planting of GM crops. It has became major news given the sensitivity of the issue, coupled with the fact that China is a major rice producer.

China is also the first country in the world that has given a nod to GM staple food, which experts say will pave the way for large-scale commercial cultivation of GM crops.

At the height of the debate on human and bioenvironmental safety of GM farming, a senior official spoke out in favor of the biotechnology.

"The application and research on GM agriculture is definitely the future trend in China and is among strategic measures to strive for more competitive agriculture through technology," Wei Chaoan, vice-minister of agriculture, said at a press conference.