Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Chengdu on June 8 and 9. On June 9 at Chengdu, he met
at least 115 PLA officers of and above the rank of Colonel with whom he had a group
photograph. He was accompanied by CMC Vice Chairman Xu Qiliang. The officers were from
the PLA Army (Ground Forces), PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and PLA Rocket Force (PLARF).
The group photograph showed Xi Jinping in military uniform sitting in the front with CMC
Vice Chairman Xu Qiliang, WTC Commander General Wang Haijiang, WTC Political
Commissar General Li Fengbiao and probably the Commander of the PLARF. Xinhua News
Agency also reported that on the morning of June 9, Xi Jinping met officers above the rank of
Colonel and the Head of the PLA Formation regiment stationed in Chengdu, and took a group
photo with them. Reports mention that Xi Jinping's inspection was short and he did not convene
a meeting with local party and government officials. According to Xinhua News Agency (June
8) Xi Jinping was accompanied by Sichuan Provincial Party Committee Secretary Wang
Xiaohui and Governor Huang Qiang, who accompanied him to Meishan, Yibin and other
places successively. The four central officials accompanying Xi Jinping were: Ding Xuexiang,
Director of the Central General Office; Liu He, Vice Premier; Chen Xi, Director of the Central
Organization Department; and He Lifeng, Director of the National Development and Reform
Commission (NDRC). Xi Jinping met the local troops stationed in Sichuan.
(Comment: Chengdu is the Hqrs of the Tibet Military Region within the Western Theatre
Command. Chengdu is also the Hqrs of the Western Theatre Command Joint Operations
Command which is established in times of war/crisis.)
|
