The Chinese armed forces will safeguard the country's sovereignty, security and development interests, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday when delivering the government work report at the opening meeting of the third session of the 13th National People's Congress.

China has made important progress in strengthening national defense and the armed forces since last year, Li said, hailing the military for acting swiftly and "shouldering heavy responsibilities" in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.

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"We will continue to enhance the political loyalty of the armed forces, strengthen them through reform, science and technology, and the training of capable personnel, and run the military in accordance with law," he added.

China will draw up the 14th Five-Year Plan for the development of the armed forces in 2020, he said.

The country will deepen reforms in national defense and the military, increase its logistic and equipment support capacity, and promote innovative development of defense-related science and technology, said the premier.

Efforts will also be made to improve the system of national defense mobilization and ensure that the unity between the military and the government and between the military and the people remains "rock solid," Li stressed.

China will continue to lower its defense budget growth rate to 6.6 percent in 2020, according to a draft budget report. It is the lowest defense budget growth rate in recent years.