Russia will boost domestic grain production in a bid to consolidate its position on the global market, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday.

"We are preparing to strengthen our position on the world grain market and to put financial and organizational support behind it," Medvedev said in his opening remarks to the World Grain Forum heldin St. Petersburg.

The Asia-Pacific region is of great significance for Russia's grain exports, Medvedev told an audience of agricultural business representatives.

Russia's measures to diversify its export destinations are not only beneficial to trade partners, but also conducive to the development of the eastern Siberia and the Far East region, he said.

The Russian president called for joint efforts by major grain exporters to ensure reasonable grain prices. "We could discuss forming a new policy in grain production and international grain trade," he said.

Medvedev also noted that Russia's grain harvest could reach 80-90 million tons this year, with 20 million going to exports.

In 2008, Russia saw a record high grain harvest of 108 million tons.

Source: Xinhua