Coastal defense, a key area of national defense, is of great importance for the opening-up and economic prosperity of coastal areas, State Councilor Luo Gan told the second national working conference on the administration of coast defense.
The meeting was held from Sept. 19 to 21 in Xiamen, Fujian Province, east China, and was attended by government officials and officers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
The meeting recalled the achievements made in the development of coastal defense in the past decade.
In his address, Luo urged those responsible for marine defense to follow President Jiang Zemin's instructions, central policies, and relevant laws and regulations, to safeguard China's state sovereignty, territorial integrity and maritime rights.
He called for a crack down on offshore smuggling, drug-trafficking and robbery, in a bid to ensure security and stability in coastal areas and territorial waters.
Luo is a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the National Frontier Committee.
(Xinhua News Agency September 22, 2002)
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