Xi reviews troops in field for first time

Chinese President Xi Jinping reviewed the country's armed forces on Sunday morning at the Zhurihe training base in north China's Inner Mongolia.

For the first time, the country held a parade to celebrate the birthday of the People's Liberation Army in battlefield conditions. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese armed forces.

More than 12,000 service personnel from the air force, army and navy, as well as the newly formed rocket force and strategic support troops, took part in the parade.

Advanced weapons including stealth fighters and nuclear missiles were displayed.

In a speech after the inspection, President Xi Jinping has urged building the People's Liberation Army into world-class armed forces.

"Comrades, enjoying peace is a bliss for the people while protecting peace is the responsibility of the people's army. The world is not all at peace, and peace must be safeguarded. Today, we are closer to the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than at any other time in history, and we need to build a strong people's army more than at any other time in history."

He also praised the contributions made by the PLA in its nine decades of history to the country and the people.

"I firmly believe that our armed forces have the confidence and capability to defeat all invading enemies, and to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests."

Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has called on the PLA to stay loyal to the Party, boost combat capability and continue to serve the people.

The parade at Zhurihe, which means "heart" in Mongolian, captured the essence of fundamental changes taking place in China's armed forces with sweeping reform measures unleashed in recent years.

In just two years, the top bureaucracy was streamlined, military services balanced, the joint command system reshaped, equipment upgraded and border patrols increased.

Meanwhile, China's second aircraft carrier was launched; more warships were commissioned; also new fighter jets, drones, and missiles were unveiled.

Military expert Yin Zhuo says president Xi's speech has directed the PLA on a path to becoming a stronger military power.

"The parade this time is concentrated on presentation of our military reform accomplishment. For such short of time, our military has made tremendous progress. We have kept up with world leading technological innovation and the cotemporary demand of information warfare. The parade also presents the great coordination of overall command and different battle zone forces."

Experts say with the military reforms, a more efficient command chain for battles has been put into place and the PLA will grow into a world class army force, so long as it sticks to the reform process.

The PLA has come a long way since its birth during the Nanchang Uprising on August 1, 1927. Today, the PLA comprises about 2 million service personnel, making it one of the world's largest military forces.

Army Day is celebrated in China on August 1st.