(CFP)

Liu Cigui, 56, has been appointed director and party secretary of the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), replacing Sun Zhihui, who retired from the post.

Born in Fujian, a coastal province in southeast China, Liu once served as deputy secretary of the provincial Communist Youth League and as the top provincial official on marine matters. In 2000, Liu became party secretary and director of Fujian Provincial Department of Ocean and Fisheries. In 2007, he was appointed Party chief and Mayor of Xiamen in Fujian Province.

At a press conference, Liu spoke of his determination to devote himself to China's marine industry. "China's ocean has realized sustainable, healthy and orderly development during the past years. In the future, I will learn from experts, comrades around me and also veterans in the field. I will not let the public down," said Liu.

Statistics show the general output of China's ocean area was about 3.2 trillion yuan ($477.6 billion) in 2009, which accounted for 9.5 percent of China's GDP and 15.5 percent of GDP of China's coastal areas.