Xi reviews parade in field for first time

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reviews the armed forces as part of the commemorations to mark the 90th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) at Zhurihe military training base in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, July 30, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

COMMITMENT TO PEACE

The troops frequenting the Inner Mongolian prairie today are different from the cavalry armies standing on the same turf commanded by Genghis Khan over 800 years ago.

China's modern armed forces remain committed to peace.

Chinese servicemen are actively involved in international peace-keeping missions. The country has sent about 35,000 military personnel, the most among permanent members of the UN Security Council, to at least 24 UN peace-keeping missions.

Xi said that enjoying peace is a bliss for the people, while protecting peace is the responsibility of the people's army.

"The world is not all at peace, and peace must be safeguarded," Xi said.