Chinese President Xi Jinping is stressing the urgency for building a powerful and world-class navy. Earlier Thursday, the Chairman of China's Central Military Commission inspected a naval fleet in the South China Sea. CGTN's Paolo Montecillo has the story.

Over 10-thousand officers and troops joined China's biggest-ever naval review on Thursday. Chinese President Xi Jinping led the inspection of the nation's naval fleet in the South China Sea. 

President Xi ordered the start of the naval parade at 10 in the morning and greeted the soldiers. Nearly 50 warships and almost 80 aircraft were part of the event. Naval vessels grouped into seven operational formations, showed off various capabilities, including strategic strikes, underwater offensive combat, offshore operations, carrier strikes, amphibious landing, in-shore defense, and comprehensive security. Planes in 10 groups were part of the parade. China's Liaoning aircraft carrier was joined by a series of new submarines, surface ships, and combat aircraft for the review. In a speech, President Xi said the People's Liberation Army Navy must thoroughly implement the CPC's thought on building a strong army in China's new era.

XI JINPING CHINESE PRESIDENT "Building up a powerful People's Liberation Army navy is part of the long-cherished desire of the Chinese nation to be a stronger maritime military power, and also significant assurance of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." 

"All naval officers, you must pursue comprehensive and deepening reform, be energized in working toward innovation in science and technology, accelerate the navy's modernization, focus on building a modern maritime combat system, and make efforts to enhance the capacity and level of military missions in a variety of ways." 

Addressing the 19th CPC National Congress in October, Xi said the modernization of China's national defense and armed forces should be completed by 2035. President Xi called on naval officers to enhance military training and remain on high alert. Xi told soldiers he looks forward to more of their contributions to global peace and stability. After the review, China's leader inspected the take-off training of four J-15 fighter jets. The J-15 is China's first-ever home-grown fighter jet. He also signed on the Liaoning aircraft carrier's ship log at the end of the review of the ship. Paolo Montecillo, CGTN.