The planned State Security Committee will serve as a strong platform to coordinate work related to national security and will handle domestic and foreign security challenges, President Xi Jinping said.

He made the remarks when explaining key reform decisions to the Third Plenum of the Communist Party of China’s 18th Central Committee.

A communique issued after the Party session ended on Tuesday announced that the committee will be set up.

"It is a pressing matter of the moment to establish the State Security Committee, so as to strengthen centralized and unified leadership on national security," Xi said.

He said China faces twin pressures. Externally, it has to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development, while domestically it has to maintain political security and social stability.

"Various risks, some unpredictable, have increased significantly," Xi said, adding that the current national security system cannot meet demand.

The primary tasks of the new security body will include "drafting and implementing national security strategies and promoting the rule of law on national security, in addition to formulating national security policies".