China president tells Navy to prepare for military combat

Beijing: Chinese President Hu Jintao urged the country's navy on Tuesday to prepare for military combat and advance naval modernisation as part of efforts to safeguard world peace.

The navy should 'accelerate its transformation and modernisation in a sturdy way, and make extended preparations for military combat in order to make greater contributions to safeguard national security and world peace', Mr Hu said in a speech.

According to a statement on the government's website, Mr Hu was speaking to the nation's powerful Central Military Commission at a meeting in Beijing focused on military armament and the latest developments in the navy.

'Our work must closely encircle the main theme of national defence and military building,' Mr Hu said, according to the statement.