BEIJING, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday urged efforts to build a strong and modern strategic support force for the Chinese armed forces.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection of the offices of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Strategic Support Force.

He said such a strategic force should be world-class one and innovation is required to reach that status.

The strategic support force is a new type of combat force to secure national security and an important aspect of the PLA's joint operation system, Xi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers a speech during an inspection of the offices of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Strategic Support Force, Aug. 29, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Gang)