BEIJING - The State Council, China's cabinet, issued guidelines for the scientific development and environmental protection of China's marine territory on Thursday.

The National Plan for Developing Marine Functional Zones, ratified by Premier Li Keqiang, is an extension of a similar one issued for development on land in 2011.

It stipulates that methods of exploitation should be based on the features, capacities and potential of environments including inland seas, territorial waters, exclusive economic zones and continental shelves under China's jurisdiction.

The State Council said the plan promotes protection and sustainable development of the marine environment and safeguards national interests.

It urged government departments to come up with concrete measures and favorable policies to implement the plan.