President Xi calls for establishment of world-class naval force

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http://news.cctv.com/2018/04/12/ARTIuf5U1UNIpNLCL4XClga5180412.shtml

(CGTN) Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that the task of building a strong navy has never been as urgent as it is today and called for more efforts to build the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy into a world-class force.

President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks during an inspection of the PLA Navy on board the Changsha destroyer in the South China Sea.

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Building a strong navy

The PLA Navy must thoroughly implement the CPC's thought on building a strong army in the new era, uphold political integrity, reform and the rule of law, and unwaveringly accelerate the modernization of the navy, Xi said.

He called on the navy to promote scientific and technological innovation, accelerate the development of new types of combat forces, and strive to build a modern maritime combat system in an effort to enhance the ability to conduct diversified military missions.

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Largest navy parade in history

A total of 48 warships, 76 aircraft and over 10,000 officers and soldiers made up the largest navy parade in history. They were divided into seven maritime battle groups and 10 air combat formations, according to their duties and missions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the CMC, takes a group photo with PLA Navy soldiers during an inspection in the South China Sea, April 12, 2018. /CCTV Photo

A series of new submarines, surface ships, combat aircraft, and China's aircraft carrier Liaoning, also appeared in the review.

After the fleet review, Xi also inspected four J-15 jets.

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World-class military by mid-21st century

Xi said at the opening session of the 19th CPC National Congress that the CPC will strive to fully transform the people's armed forces into a world-class military by the mid-21st century.

The modernization of the national defense and armed forces should be basically completed by 2035, Xi said.

A view of the PLA Navy parade in the South China Sea, April 12, 2018. /Photo via jz.81.cn

The CPC will build a powerful and modernized army, navy, air force, rocket force, and strategic support force, develop strong and efficient joint operations commanding institutions for theater commands, and create a modern combat system with distinctive Chinese characteristics, he added.

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