BEIJING - Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday urged marine surveillance staff to intensify law enforcement in China's sea territory in order to safeguard the nation's marine interests.

Li made the remarks while greeting staff of the State Oceanic Administration ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

He also extended festival greetings via satellite video to scientists performing duties in polar regions and on the ocean, and visited representatives of scientific expeditions stationed in Beijing and their family members.

"Supervising and governing seas under the jurisdiction of China is the main responsibility of Chinese marine surveillance staff," said Li, a  Standing Committee member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau.

The vice premier asked all marine surveillance staff to bear in mind their missions and defend every piece of sea that belongs to China.

Li also urged them to improve their protection of the marine ecosystem and rationally develop the ocean during China's building into a marine power.

The leader praised "impressive achievements" in marine research in recent years, citing Jiaolong, China's manned submersible that can reach more than 7,000 meters below the sea and the Kunlun Station, China's third station in the Antarctic and the highest in terms of altitude.

China will more actively participate in international cooperation in oceanic technologies, disaster relief and polar affairs, vowed Li.

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