President Xi Jinping heading party's military reform panel

President Xi Jinping is heading a new steering group that will tackle reform of the military, a task one analyst said required more courage and determination than other areas targeted by the leadership for change.

The Communist Party's leading group for deepening reform of national defence and the armed forces held its first meeting yesterday, Xinhua reported. It was the first time state media had referred to the group.

Xi, head of the Central Military Commission, said the goal of armed forces reform was to "build a strong army".

"National defence and military reform are important parts and an important symbol of China's overall reform," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying in the meeting. Change would proceed in a "proactive yet prudent" manner.

The Communist Party has established several new steering groups after senior members approved the reform blueprints of Xi's administration in November.

So far, Xi is chairing all of the new panels, including the powerful National Security Commission and the central leading group on comprehensively deepening reforms. State media also reported this month that Xi was head of a new internet security panel.