Train army to adapt to new situations: Xi

President Xi Jinping has called for strict management and training of the Chinese army to adapt to new situations and tasks and achieve the goal of a stronger army.

Xi, who is the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks when visiting the 16th army group on Saturday, reported Xinhua.

The visit came just days ahead of Army Day, which is observed on August 1 and marks the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Xi stressed the army should keep up military training and combat preparedness.

He said the officers and soldiers must be toughened in real combat conditions to fear neither hardship nor death.

He said only strict management can improve combat capability, and stressed it should be based on rules and regulations.

The president said theoretical education must be offered to help officers and soldiers strengthen their ideals and faith.

Education is also needed to ensure military personnel recognize the party's absolute leadership over the army and help them follow the orders of the CPC Central Committee and CMC at all times and situations, he said.

Xi also asked party members and cadres to be strict in political discipline and rules.

The influence of Xu Caihou's activities, which violated Party rules and broke the law, has profoundly damaged army-building efforts, Xi said.

Xu Caihou, a former vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, was under investigation for one of the biggest corruption scandals in the country's armed forces.

Xi said the negative impact of Xu's case must be eradicated while the proud tradition and sound work style of the Red Army should be upheld and maintained to enhance the purity and solidarity of the army.

He hailed the army group's overall progress since a key meeting of the CPC in November 2012 and encouraged them to work harder and achieve more.