Chinese President Xi Jinping called for greater cooperation between the military and civilian sectors to build a stronger People's Liberation Army (PLA), a move that should be a huge challenge considering a weak Chinese economy facing a huge debt and real estate crisis.

"Military-civilian cooperation, as a national strategy, is crucial to national security and the bigger picture of development," said Xi.

Like Us on Facebook

He also noted this cooperation also helps build a prosperous nation and stronger armed forces. Military-civilian cooperation can achieve much and Xi said institutional reforms and innovation should continue.

He urged substantial efforts be made to promote military-civilian cooperation from both the demand and supply side and in the aspects of management, operation and policy making.

Xi made these remarks at an exhibition at the Academy of Armored Forces Engineering of the People's Liberation Army in Beijing. The exhibition profiled the achievements of military and civilian cooperation since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012.

Displayed were models and videos featuring processes and technology such as the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System; hybrid power stations; cloud data encryption technology; large-scale 3D printers unmanned planes and vessels.

Xi is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee including Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli also visited the exhibition.

TagsXi Jinping, People's Liberation Army, Academy of Armored Forces Engineering, Communist Party of China, military-civilian cooperation