Xi urges armed forces' loyalty, discipline (2)

BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, top leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the CPC Central Military Commission, on Monday urged the country's armed forces to be "absolutely loyal" to the Party, sharpen fighting capacity and abide by disciplines.

While joining a plenary meeting of a delegation from the People's Liberation Army at the ongoing national legislative session, Xi called on forces personnel to bring the country's defense and army building to new high.

Xi said soldiers must be absolutely loyal to the Party, and maintain their purity and reliability.

They should be at full military readiness to ensure victories in any wars, he urged.

Meanwhile, the armed forces must be ruled by law to maintain the good reputation they have earned over the decades, according to the leader.

Xi said the forces should uphold frugality and oppose extravagance and waste, so as to make full use of military spending.

According to a government budget report submitted to the national legislature last Tuesday, China plans to raise its central government defense budget by 10.7 percent to 720.2 billion yuan (114.3 billion U.S. dollars) in 2013.

Xi said economic development and defense construction should be coordinated so as to achieve integration of a wealthy nation and strong armed forces.