LANZHOU - Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited troops stationed in the nation's northwest ahead of the Lunar New Year, extending festival greetings and stressing frugality in the army.

Xi, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected an air force base, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and the Lanzhou Military Area Command on Feb 2 and Feb 4.

He stressed national defense work, urging the enhancement of the army's comprehensive building and military combat preparedness and the constant improvement of capabilities of fulfilling missions and tasks.