BEIJING - President Xi Jinping extended festive greetings to soldiers and officers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), armed police, militia and reserve forces Saturday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), visited the PLA Beijing Garrison Command ahead of the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), which falls on Feb 5 this year.

Around 9:15 am, Xi visited a unit of the National Flag Guard by a gate of the Palace Museum, and the dormitory of the officers and soldiers.

Calling the flag-raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square a significant national ceremony, Xi asked them to keep their duty and mission firmly in mind, maintain high standards and safeguard the dignity of the national flag with concrete actions.

Xi then dropped in on a support unit of the Beijing Garrison Command and watched the soldiers' rehearsal of the performances for the Spring Festival celebrations.

He also stepped into the soldiers' canteen and called on the garrison to ensure the soldiers a happy, harmonious and safe festival.