Xi advocates efforts to boost China's maritime power

President Xi Jinping has championed efforts to build China into a maritime power, adding that the country will pursue "converging interests" with other countries in oceanic development. At a study session with members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Tuesday, Xi called for efforts to learn more about and further manage the development of the ocean. 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." Meanwhile, he stressed that China will prepare to cope with complexities, enhance its capacity in safeguarding maritime rights and interests, and resolutely safeguard its maritime rights and interests. The country will adhere to the policy of "shelving disputes and carrying out joint development" for areas over which China owns sovereign rights, while also promoting mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation and seeking and expanding common converging interests with other countries, Xi said. 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.