Premier Li Keqiang delivers government work report at the opening meeting of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body in Beijing, March 5, 2014. [Photo by Wu Zhiyi/China Daily]

Premier Li Keqiang has pledged that China will resolutely uphold its marine rights and interests, and build China into a maritime power.

In his goverment work report at the beginning of the annual legislative session Wednesday morning in Beijing, the premier said that the seas are valuable national territory.

"We will steadfastly promote land and marine development in a coordinated way, fully implement China's marine strategy, develop the marine economy, protect the marine environment, resolutely uphold China's marine rights and interests, and build China into a maritime power," he told a packed conference at the Great Hall of the People.