Anchor: Officials from China's State Oceanic Administration say the country will continue to promote the restructuring of marine industries and enhance its marine monitoring capabilities. And with the formation and development of new marine industries, international cooperation will continue to strengthen. CRI reporter Zheng Chenguang has the details.

Reporter:
The State Oceanic Administration has released statistics on the country's 2007 marine economy.

Li Haiqing, an administration spokesman, says China's marine economy is under steady development, and its contribution to the national economy and social development is increasing.

In the year 2007, the total output of China's marine industries was close to 2.5 trillion yuan, or nearly 340 billion US dollars, a 15 percent increase over the previous year.

The statistics also showed rapid growth in new marine industries. Among them, the production value of marine biological pharmaceuticals has increased nearly 40 percent.

Wang Dianchang, a senior official of the State Oceanic Administration, says that since China's new marine industries started at a very basic level, the country will continue its cooperation with other countries as it cultivates marine resources.

New marine industries are a major area of cooperation. We have already done some joint projects in biological pharmaceuticals and sea water desalination. We still have immense space for future cooperation.

Officials also note that China will continue to form and develop new marine industries to promote the sustainable, but rapid development of the marine economy.

The government also plans to improve environmental protection of coastal regions.

Last year, China set up more than 9,000 monitoring stations, and issued administrative punishment in about 2,000 illegal cases related to the environment.

ZCG, CRI news.