President Xi stresses military academy's role for high combat effectiveness

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during his inspection tour of the National Defence University (NDU) of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

BEIJING, March 23 -- President Xi Jinping on Wednesday underscored the importance of combat effectiveness in the military academy.

Xi made the remarks during an inspection tour of the National Defence University (NDU) of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the top military academy.

While being shown the NDU history museum, Xi applauded the university's accomplishments.

He encouraged the university to continue to improve its educational theories and training models, as this would boost the competence and professionalism of its faculty.

To build a world-class army, military-affiliated colleges must be elite academies, Xi said, adding that reform and innovation would support this goal.

The president urged all military academies to advance warfare strategies to create a "military theory that is up-to-date, pioneering and unique."

They were encouraged to closely follow global military developments, research the role of IT in military operations and address the problems in the country's combat readiness.

Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), urged servicemen and women to adhere to the correct political direction.

He urged military universities to stick to the Party's absolute leadership, maintain a high degree of consistency with the CPC Central Committee in thought, politics and action, safeguard the CPC Central Committee's authority, and follow the CPC Central Committee and the CMC.

He also underscored the importance of military innovation, calling for more efforts to nurture, gather and retain talented servicemen and women.

Improving students' ideological and political abilities and enhancing their political ethics should be the top priority in education, Xi said, adding that the Party committee at military universities must lead by example and demonstrate "a righteous academic attitude."

The leadership and Party committee at military academies must be united in the promotion of a honest, moral political culture, and resolutely fight corruption, Xi said.

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