President Xi Jinping an advocate to build China into a maritime power. The country will pursue "converging interests" with other countries in oceanic development.
China will safeguard its maritime rights and interests, and make overall plans and take all factors into consideration, he said.
Xi said China will adhere to the path of peaceful development, but "in no way will the country abandon its legitimate rights and interests, nor will it give up its core national interests."
The president said China will "use peaceful means and negotiations to settle disputes and strive to safeguard peace and stability."
"In the 21st century, oceans and seas have an increasingly important role to play in a country's economic development and opening up to the outside world'', he said.
'"Their status has become more prominent in regards to safeguarding state sovereignty, national security and development interests, as well as the advancement of a country's ecological civilization.
The oceans and seas have an increasingly important strategic status concerning global competition in the spheres of politics, economic development, military, and scientific and technology'', he said.
Source Xinhua
