China will lower its defense budget growth rate to 7.5 percent in 2019, from 8.1 percent last year, according to a draft budget report to be submitted to the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) opening Tuesday. 

The 2019 defense budget will be 1.19 trillion yuan (about 178 billion U.S. dollars), the report said. The rate marks a fourth straight year for the budgeted growth rate to dip into the single digit since 2016, following five consecutive years of double-digit increases.

In the annual government work report, Premier Li Keqiang said China will continue to advance military reform and technology innovation, and push ahead with military training to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development.

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The premier told lawmakers on Tuesday at the opening meeting of the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, underway in Beijing from March 5 to 15.

Li called on local governments at all levels to support national defense and military building. 

He said China will push for military-civilian integration and technology innovation in its national defense building in 2019.