BEIJING, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping has signed orders to award merit citations to three individuals.

Professor Xiao Fei, head of a research institution at the Naval University of Engineering, was awarded a first-class merit citation.

Third-class citations were awarded to Pan Weiqing, a professor at the former Second Military Medical University; and Xiao Longxu, chief engineer and researcher of the former equipment research institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Rocket Force.