China sets up joint logistics force, Xi confers flags

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday conferred flags to joint logistics units as the Central Military Commission (CMC) established a joint logistics support force.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L, front), also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), confers a military flag to Commander Li Shisheng and Political Commissar Yin Zhihong of Wuhan Joint Logistics Unit as the CMC established a joint logistics support force in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 13, 2016.  [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi, also chairman of the CMC, presented the flags to commander Li Shisheng and political commissar Yin Zhihong of the joint logistics support base in Wuhan and other senior officers of joint logistics support centers in Wuxi, Guilin, Xining, Shenyang and Zhengzhou at a ceremony in Beijing.

Xi said the move to establish the joint logistics support force is a strategic decision by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the CMC to comprehensively deepen national defense and military reform, and it is of far-reaching significance to establishing a modern joint logistics support force with Chinese characteristics and building a world-leading military.

Noting that the joint logistics support force is a main force in strategic battle support missions, Xi asked the force to absolutely adhere to the Party's leadership.

He also urged the new force to deepen logistics preparedness for battle and better integrate the force into the joint operations system and carry out real battle training.
The force was also told to promote reform and improve management.

CMC Vice Chairman Fan Changlong announced the decision to establish a joint logistics support force, which was endorsed by Xi.
Yang Yujun, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, told a press conference that the move marked the establishment of a modern joint logistics support system with Chinese characteristics and the ministry will release more information in line with the military reform process.