Innovation must strengthen combat capacity: Xi

BEIJING - President Xi Jinping on Sunday urged the military to turn cutting-edge military technology into real combat capacity.

A preemptive attitude toward military affairs is needed, Xi told national lawmakers from the military at the ongoing annual parliamentary session.

The armed forces must understand the role of leading technology and push research in this regard, Xi said.

Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said strategies must be designed in line with advanced military technology.

The military should establish "unique advantages in some key fields," he said.