President Xi climbs on China's 'king of land battle'

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Chinese President Xi Jinping underscored the importance of technology and innovation in the building of a strong military during an inspection of a People's Liberation Army (PLA) division in the Central Theater Command on Wednesday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), took a close look at the troop's digital weapons and ordered the creation of an elite combat force through real combat training and digitalization.

Xi Jinping (C) inspects a division of the PLA in the Central Theater Command in Hebei Province, north China, January 3, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Wearing a camouflage uniform, Xi climbed on a 99A tank – China's most sophisticated main battlefield tank, known as the "king of the land battle." He also climbed on an HJ-10 missile launcher.

Xi called on the troops to transform scientific and technological strengths into improved combat ability.

The Chinese president then watched snipers and scouts training for the Scouting and Intelligence Battalion.

Officers and soldiers from the division reiterated their loyalty to the CPC and vowed to be "President Xi's good soldiers."

Military personnel start training after Xi Jinping issued an order at a mobilization meeting held by the CMC on Jan. 3, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Xi also visited the simulation training center and an exhibition hall about the history of the division, which had fought in the Korean War from 1950-1953.

Xi's inspection came after a mobilization meeting for China's armed forces on Wednesday morning. In an order issued at the meeting, he instructed the armed forces to strengthen real combat training and improve its war-winning capability.

It was the first time the CMC has held a mobilization meeting for the whole armed forces.