A formation of the Nanhai Fleet of China's Navy on Saturday finished a three-day patrol of the Nansha islands in the South China Sea. [Photo/Xinhua]

Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Fan Changlong has paid an inspection visit to the islands and reefs of China's Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, the Ministry of National Defense said on Friday.

According to the ministry, Fan paid the visit "in recent days", and he led officials of the relevant departments of the People's Liberation Army as well as local officials. The short release did not provide further detail on either the exact timing or the specific islands.

Fan greeted officers and soldiers garrisoning the islands as well as construction workers.

He was also briefed about the construction of facilities on the islands and reefs of Nansha.

Construction of a range of projects serving the international community are progressing smoothly, according to the release.

The projects range from lighthouses, automatic weather stations, oceanic observation centers to facilities for maritime scientific research, according to the ministry.

Five lighthouses for ensuring navigational safety have been established and four have been officially put in to use.