New commanders of the PLA take up their positions

New commanders of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Ground Force and Air Force have taken up their posts.

Han Weiguo, 61, who was commander of the PLA's Central Theatre Command, became commander of the PLA Ground Force. He delivered a speech as commander of the PLA Ground Force at a congress of the Communist Party of China at the Beijing Garrison Command on Thursday, according to a report by Beijing Daily on Friday.

His predecessor, General Li Zuocheng, became chief of the Joint Staff Department under the Central Military Commission, the report said.

Han was appointed commander of the PLA's Central Theatre Command in February last year and was promoted to general in July this year. He was the commander-in-chief of the military parade on July 30 at Zhurihe Training Base in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region marking the 90th anniversary of the PLA.

Han graduated from the PLA's National Defense University and held a master's degree in military studies.

Lieutenant General Ding Laihang, 60, the new commander of the PLA Air Force, inspected more than 2,000 pilot candidates, including more than 1,000 students recruited this year, at Aviation University Air Force, in Changchun, capital of Jilin province, on Friday, the PLA Air Force said on its Sina Weibo account on Friday.

At a speech during the inspection, Ding said unprecedented changes have taken place in China's air force and encouraged the college students to study hard to contribute to a more powerful Chinese air force.

Ding is the 12th commander of PLA Air Force since the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, according to a report of the Southern Metropolis Daily on Friday. Ma Xiaotian, his predecessor, who is 68, retired because of age, the report said.

Before assuming his new post, Ding held posts including air force commander of the PLA's Northern Theater Command and president of PLA Air Force Command College, according to the report.

Ding is also a deputy to the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body.