China holds military parade to mark PLA 90th birthday

China holds a military parade at Zhurihe training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on July 30, 2017, in celebration of the 90th birthday of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. [Photo: Xinhua]

Chinese President Xi Jinping reviewed the country's armed forces in the field on Sunday morning, as part of the commemorations to mark the 90th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). 

It is the first time that Xi, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, observed such a massive parade staged in the field.

Xi was greeted by Han Weiguo, commander-in-chief of the parade and commander of the Central Theater Command.

Han reported: "Comrade Chairman, the troops are ready. Please review!" 

"Proceed!" Xi said.

Clad in camouflage military suit, Xi stood in an open-roof jeep that drove slowly past formations of troops as military music was being played through loudspeakers. 

The soldiers were standing to attention down the length of an airstrip at the Zhurihe military training base, flanked by sandy prairies that stretched to mountains on the skyline.

Every few moments, Xi called out "Salute to you, comrades!" through microphones mounted in front of him, to which assembled troops responded "Hail to you, chairman!" Xi alternated that greeting with "Comrades, thanks for your hard work!" to which soldiers replied "Serve the people!"

"Follow the Party! Fight to win! Forge exemplary conduct!" Servicemen and women saluted Xi and exclaimed.