A report from the Supreme People's Court (SPC) on Sunday said China will set up an international maritime judicial center in its latest bid to protect national sovereignty and maritime rights.

Courts across China shall work to implement the national strategy of building the country into a "maritime power," read the report on the work of the SPC to be delivered by Chief Justice Zhou Qiang at the annual session of the national legislature.

"(We) must resolutely safeguard China's national sovereignty, its maritime rights and other core interests," the report read.