President pushes PLA to innovate

The People's Liberation Army must build itself by innovating in every respect, President Xi Jinping said on Sunday.

Xi, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, told national lawmakers from the PLA during a panel discussion that the capability to innovate is one of the key factors that will determine the Chinese military's future.

He urged top PLA officers to "emancipate their minds" and to embrace new ideas and methods.