China to make maritime law in five years

Workers on an oil-drilling platform in the South China Sea. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - China will strengthen the top-level design of its maritime strategy and make a basic maritime law between 2016 and 2020, the draft outline of a 13th Five-Year Plan said on Saturday.

China will strengthen the capabilities of maritime law enforcement, use all kinds of means to safeguard maritime interests and maintain free navigation and maritime passage safety at seawaters under China's jurisdiction, according to the draft presented to the annual session of the national legislature for review.

China will improve sea-related dialogue and cooperation mechanisms with neighboring countries and boost pragmatic maritime cooperation, the draft said.

The country will also strengthen the protection of maritime resources and environment with fishing bans and the control of pollutants discharged from the land.

China will push the construction of state maritime economic development zones in eastern coastal regions, including Shandong, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Fujian provinces and Tianjin municipality, according to the draft.

The country will also support the island province of Hainan to make use of resources in the South China Sea to develop maritime economy, the draft said.