Xi presents flag to PLA's information support force

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has set up an information support force.

President Xi Jinping presented a flag to the force at its establishment ceremony held in Beijing on Friday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed solid efforts to build a strong and modernized information support force.

At the ceremony, which started at 16:00, Xi presented the flag to Bi Yi and Li Wei, who serve as the force's commander and political commissar, respectively.

Xi said that the establishment of the information support force is a major decision that the CPC Central Committee and the CMC has made in light of the overall need of building a strong military.

Xi stressed that the information support force is a new, strategic branch of the military and a key pillar in coordinating the construction and application of the network information system. It will play a crucial role in advancing the Chinese military's high-quality development and competitiveness in modern warfare.

He ordered the force to resolutely obey the Party's command, and make sure it stays absolutely loyal, pure and reliable.

Xi urged the force to integrate deeply into the Chinese military's joint operation system, carry out information support operations in a precise and effective manner, and facilitate military operations in various directions and fields.

He also urged efforts to build a network information system that fulfills the requirements of modern warfare and features the Chinese military's own characteristics, as well as efforts to accelerate the development of integrated combat capabilities more effectively.

Li Wei spoke on behalf of the new force.

After the ceremony, Xi met with the force's commanding team and posed for a group photo with them.

Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of the CMC, announced the order of force establishment, which was signed by Xi. He Weidong, another CMC vice chairman, presided over the ceremony.

The new force is under the direct leadership and command of the CMC.

Xi presents flag to PLA's information support force

Organizers of the ongoing 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, estimate that potential business deals, amounting to around 282 million dollars, have been agreed so far.

As of Thursday, the exhibition in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou had attracted 234,000 overseas exhibitors from 215 countries and regions, a 25-percent-increase from the previous edition.

The 135th session of the Canton Fair runs from April 15 to May 5 in three five-day phases.

Themed as "A Better Life," the third phase of the 135th session of China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, started on Wednesday, focusing on trendy household goods and daily essentials.

A total of 21 exhibition zones in five major categories have been in place, which display commodities including toys, baby and maternity products, household textiles, stationery and health and leisure items.

Launched in 1957 and held twice a year, the Canton Fair is considered a major bellwether for China's foreign trade.

Canton Fair organizers estimate 282 million dollars in potential deals