Chinese shares close higher Thursday

Chinese stocks closed higher on Thursday, with the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index up 1.65 percent to 4,036.59 points.

The Shenzhen Component Index closed 3.07 percent higher at 15,398.73 points.

The combined turnover of stocks covered by these two indices reached 2.91 trillion yuan (about 427.71 billion U.S. dollars), up from 2.56 trillion yuan in the previous trading day.

Stocks related to semiconductor chips and computing hardware led the gains, while those of tourism and hotels as well as lithium mining were among the top decliners.

The ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, gained 4.49 percent to close at 4,018.17 points.

The STAR Composite Index, which reflects the performance of stocks on China's sci-tech innovation board, closed 6.67 percent higher at 2,459.39 points.

China's air force has entered a critical stage of strategic transformation with its capability comprehensively enhanced, said Chen Xi, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

Chen made the remarks in response to the latest promotional video of Y-20, China's domestically developed large transport aircraft, which made the transformation and upgrading of the Chinese Air Force's strategic airlift capabilities a hot topic.

"In recent years, China's air force has entered a critical stage of strategic transformation featuring space-air-ground integration and balanced offense and defense. From the J-20, J-16, J-10 fighter families and other new fighter jets that strive for combat readiness, to the Y-20 series aircraft that expand flight track, and further to bombers and early warning aircraft that provide systemic support, the air force has continuously improved its strategic air and space strike capabilities, strategic early warning capabilities, air and space defense capabilities, and strategic airlift capabilities. The Chinese Air Force remains true to its founding mission, carries forward its revolutionary traditions and heritage, builds a forward-looking force system, accelerates its modernization, always acts as the 'Great Wall in the Blue Sky' to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and bravely serves as a steadfast guardian of China's airspace security and regional peace and stability," said Chen.