China's Xi calls for fast elevation of armed forces

China’s leader Xi Jinping has called for the armed forces to quickly elevate to "world-class standards,” in a speech during the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, on Wednesday.

Xi made a series of calls to accelerate the build-up of self-reliance in science and technology, bolster strategic capabilities in emergency fields, make industrial and supply chains more resilient and make national reserves “more capable of safeguarding national security.”

His remarks to delegates in the ceremonial parliament representing the People's Liberation Army, the military wing of the ruling Communist Party, and the paramilitary People's Armed Police, were carried by the official Xinhua News Agency.