Vice Admiral Tian Zhong, deputy commander of the PLA Navy, inspects forces in Djibouti on Tuesday. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

Li Li, a military strategy researcher at the PLA National Defense University, said Xi's remarks stated clearly his expectations on the Chinese military - to be a reliable and capable guardian for China's sovereignty, security and interests.

"The president has repeatedly stressed the importance of science and technology in the future of the PLA because he is fully aware that a war tomorrow will definitely be one determined by science and technology," she said. "Upon Xi's request, the PLA will continue to strengthen its research and development efforts."

Tuesday's ceremony is the third event Xi has taken part in during the past three days to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the PLA.

On Sunday, he inspected a field parade at the Zhurihe Training Base in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, which involved a total of 12,000 troops and hundreds of large weapons and equipment.

The event was the first parade specifically organized to celebrate a founding anniversary of the PLA. Many new weapons there were shown to the public for the first time.

On Monday, Xi attended a reception held by the Defense Ministry at the Great Hall of the People, exchanging toasts with retired commanders, veterans and honor recipients to salute them.

On Aug 1, 1927, the Communist Party of China, which was founded in July 1921, led a military uprising in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, and established its own armed force in hopes of liberating the Chinese people from the hands of the Kuomintang rulers, local warlords and foreign imperialists.

The date was later commemorated as the birthday of the PLA, which was called the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army at first. The current name - People's Liberation Army - was formally adopted in 1947, two years before the founding of the People's Republic of China.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, speaks in Beijing on Tuesday, the 90th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army.