Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed military modernization and technological advances during meetings with servicemen and women ahead of the Lunar New Year, state media said.
Chinese leaders generally use the time around the festival to make inspection trips around the country where they flag important policy initiatives or areas of concern for the year ahead.
The weeklong holiday starts Thursday, the eve of the new year. It is the most important holiday in the Chinese calendar, when millions of people travel to their hometowns, many for the only time in the year.