BEIJING • Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the role of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily, and called on the paper to play a leading role in strengthening the military and innovating its journalistic practice.

Mr Xi, who visited the paper's headquarters on Friday, said that the paper must adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China and also serve the PLA.

He added that the newspaper must also "unswervingly" embrace the CPC leadership, reported China's Xinhua news agency.

The president, who is also chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), used his visit to go on social media, personally posting an update on the paper's Chinese microblogging platform Weibo account.

He wished members of the armed forces a happy New Year and encouraged them to contribute to both the Chinese dream and the vision of a stronger military.

Mr Xi had several requests for the paper, which will celebrate its 60th anniversary next year.

He urged it to strictly follow the leadership of CPC Central Committee and safeguard the authority of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC.

He also added that the paper should explain the ongoing military reform to officers and soldiers, such as the content and significance of the reform, the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, and reform measures that will affect their interests.

The paper should guide the officers and soldiers to support and take part in the reform, he said, adding that journalists should head out to the grassroots levels to observe troops first-hand.

In the age of the Internet, Mr Xi emphasised the need for innovation, and told the paper that it should take advantage of the Net to promote itself.

XINHUA