Chinese President Xi Jinping calls for 'strong, modern' navy

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for efforts to build the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy into a strong and modern force to lend support for the realization of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation and overarching goal to have a strong army.

Xi, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks on Wednesday during an inspection of the PLA Navy headquarters.

Noting that building a strong and modern navy force is a strategic buttress to the country's position as a marine power and a significant component of the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, Xi urged PLA Navy troops to shoulder the historic responsibility.

Xi demanded the navy's combat capability be enhanced through drills under battle conditions while it is undergoing its transformation.

He underlined the importance of innovation, calling for strengthening the innovation consciousness, enhancing the innovation capacity, in a bid to inject strong impetus into the navy transformation.

The navy should be strictly governed and according to law, to ensure the transformation of the navy is pushing forward properly in the track of law, Xi stressed.

Xi ordered better ideological and political work, saying that the pernicious influence of Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, two corrupt former CMC vice chairmen, should be purged.

It must be ensured that the navy upholds the authority of the CPC Central Committee and firmly follows its command, and that of the CMC, Xi said.

Xi also asked the navy to select and appoint officials based on high standards, and cultivate large numbers of new-type high caliber military personnel.

(CGTN)