BEIJING, March 15 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is head of a leading group for deepening reform on national defense and the military, on Saturday stressed the country's military reform should be guided by the objective of building a strong army.

Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks during the first plenary meeting of the group under the CMC.

CMC vice chairmen Fan Changlong and Xu Qiliang serve as the leading group's deputy heads.