Xi visits military base, extends festival greetings

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‍Chinese President Xi Jinping visited a military base in Sichuan Province in southwest China on Saturday ahead of the Spring Festival.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, extended festival greetings to all officers and soldiers of the People's Liberation Army, the armed police force, and all militia and reserve personnel.

The festival falls on Friday.

Xi also visited a satellite launch site ahead of the launch of BeiDou-3 satellites, two of which were sent into space Monday.

He inspected the preparation work for the launch while visiting the site's command center and talked with scientists and technicians, asking them about their research, work and lives.

He told them to keep pursuing precision and perfection to ensure the success of the launch.

Through video telephone, Xi talked with grassroots soldiers stationed at an island in the Xisha area and asked them what they had prepared to celebrate the upcoming Spring Festival.

Xi also met with the base's senior officers and asked them to work with more commitment and be steadfast in building China's strength in aerospace to create more "Chinese miracles."

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits a military base in Sichuan Province in southwest China, February 10. /CCTV Photo

He stressed military training under combat conditions to build the country's military into a world-class one and improve the country's strength in aerospace.

Noting that technology is a core combat capability, Xi called for intensified work to make breakthroughs in core and key technologies so that China could take the initiative in international competition.

He also emphasized the political loyalty of the armed forces.

Comprehensive and strict guidance and management of the armed forces should be conducted to ensure the absolute loyalty, purity and reliability of the forces, he said.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency