Xi promotes two officers to head Rocket Force

President Xi Jinping promoted two senior People's Liberation Army officers to general on Monday, the highest rank in the military.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, conferred promotion certificates to Wang Houbin, commander of the PLA Rocket Force, and Xu Xisheng, political commissar of the same branch.

General Zhang Youxia, a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, read the promotion orders at a ceremony at the commission's headquarters in Beijing.

Xi congratulated the promoted officers, who were lieutenant generals, and took a picture with them.

The PLA Rocket Force is in charge of managing and operating the nation's ballistic and cruise missiles and is believed to be one of the world's largest missile forces.

Wang is known for his long service in the PLA Navy and had been senior officer in the East and South Sea fleets. His last known title was deputy commander of the PLA Navy.

Wang's predecessor was General Li Yuchao, who spent his entire career with the missile force.

Before this appointment, Xu was a long-time political worker in the PLA Air Force. His title during his last public appearance was political commissar of the air force under the PLA Southern Theater Command.