Xi meets local senior officers, stresses CPC's leadership over army

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R, front), also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, shakes hands with senior military officers stationed in Jiangxi in Nanchang, capital of East China's Jiangxi province, Feb 2, 2016. Xi extended holiday greetings to all military personnel during a three-day tour in Jiangxi from Feb 1 to 3. [Photo/Xinhua]

NANCHANG -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with senior officers at local military units in the eastern province of Jiangxi on Wednesday, urging the country's armed forces to follow the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), extended greetings to all military personnel in Jiangxi on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC.

Stressing the commitment to build a strong army, Xi called on all military units to promote political faithfulness, reforms and rule of law among China's armed forces.

Education and guidance should be enhanced to promote servicemen's awareness to listen to the Party and follow the commands of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, Xi said, underlining the province's revolutionary tradition in forging the soldiers' spirit.

Also, the CMC chairman told the military to better support poverty reduction in the province's less-developed areas and advance the civil-military integration.

Xi paid a three-day visit to the province this week, days ahead of the traditional Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The People's Liberation Army was regrouped into five theater commands on Monday.

Xi presented military flags to top officers of the five theater commands at the inauguration ceremony on Monday morning, urging construction of a joint battle command system that is "absolutely loyal, resourceful in fighting, efficient in commanding and courageous and capable of winning wars."