President Xi Jinping reviews the crew of the Liaoning, the country’s fi rst aircraft carrier, in Dalian, Liaoning province, on Wednesday. Xi urged the military to make greater contributions to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. Photo by Li Gang/Xinhua

President Xi Jinping urged the nation's military to make greater efforts in training troops and in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development, during his visit this week to the Shenyang military theater of operations and a stop at a training session aboard the Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier.

Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission and general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, watched carrier-borne aircraft take off and land at the People's Liberation Army navy training base.

Xi applauded the pilots' performance and flights skills under complicated weather conditions. He also listened to a presentation detailing the design and capability of an aircraft.

On Wednesday afternoon, Xi visited Dalian and boarded the Liaoning at Dalian Port to review a parade for the PLA's Honor Guard, a ceremonial military unit.

On the carrier, Xi asked about its capabilities and its equipment. He was briefed on how soldiers were progressing in their training. He asked specifically about their lodging, dining and medical facilities.

He then accepted the carrier's emblem and souvenir cap presented to him by the carrier's sailors and signed his name in the ship's log.

The Liaoning was put into active service in September. On Thursday, a day after Xi's visit, the carrier shipped out of the port for a month-long mission in the Bohai Sea. On the Internet, fans of China's military guessed that the Liaoning will undertake more training sessions to improve coordination between the carrier and its aircraft.

Li Jie, a senior expert at the Naval Military Studies Research Institute of the People's Liberation Army, said cooperation between the carrier and its aircraft is going according to plan.

"We have more planes and more pilots, but the carrier will be ready for various aircraft formations," Li said.

Visit to Shenyang

On Friday, Xi visited Tiexi, Liaoning province, one of China's most important industrial bases dating back to the 1950s, located within the capital.

Xi went to three companies in Shenyang — Shenyang Machine Tool Co Ltd, Shenyang Yuanda Group and Shenyang Blower Works Group Co Ltd — and encouraged them to further innovate, build upon their brands and expand their markets.

Liu Qingbin, a technical worker at Shenyang Machine Tool Co Ltd, was thrilled with Xi's visit.

"Although I cannot see him, I heard his words and they encouraged me a lot," Liu said. "As one of the post-'80s generation, it's time for us to work hard and make strides, especially in technical research. I am honored that as a technical worker, I can contribute to the development of our company and our country," he said.

Zeng Fanshan, an employee of Shenyang Yuanda Group, said Xi's visit inspired him to "realize his Chinese dream".

"I am inspired and motivated to achieve my dream. If all the people are able to realize their dreams, our country will be better and better," he said.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

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