Xi confers posthumous honour on fighter jet pilot

Chinese President Xi Jinping has conferred a posthumous honorary title on a pilot of a fighter jet meant for China's first aircraft carrier, who was killed during a training.

President Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, signed an order to confer a posthumous honorary title on Zhang Chao, who died on April 27 while flying a J-15 carrier-based aircraft in a carrier-landing simulation.

He was given the title "Pioneer in Building a Strong Army."

Zhang, who had participated in several dozen marine patrols, joined the team of carrier-based aircraft pilots in March 2015.

The whole army and armed police forces were asked to learn from Zhang's virtues such as self-discipline and being bold enough to sacrifice everything for the Party and the people.