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Navy urged to go from coastal waters to oceans

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-07 17:08

BEIJING -- Chinese navy need to go from coastal waters to oceans, a political advisor said in Beijing Saturday.

"Our navy shall move from coastal waters to oceans and shoulder the tasks of safeguarding territory, development of national economy and overseas interests," said Chen Mingyi, member the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, or the top political advisory body.

Chen urged the country to invest more in the modernization of the navy and improve the ability and level of warship building.

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He also suggested the country enhance ocean exploration and exploitation as it did in the space sector.

On Friday, Admiral Hu Yanlin, former political commissar of Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, said China should build its own aircraft carrier.

"There should be nothing to be afraid of as you can see China's major neighbors all have had their own aircraft carriers," said Hu on the sidelines of the annual parliament session, in response to whether neighboring countries would be worried about.