Xi Jinping, chairman of the Central Military Commission, has signed an order to unveil the flag patterns of four branches of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

In his order, which was made public on Thursday, Xi, who is also Chinese president and general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, authorized the use and publication of the four flags, which represent the aerospace force, cyberspace force, information support force and joint logistics support force.

On the occasion of China's Army Day, which falls on Aug 1 and marks the 98th anniversary of the founding of the PLA, Xi extended festive greetings to service personnel of the PLA and the People's Armed Police Force, civilian personnel posted in the military, and members of reserve forces and militia.

Also on Thursday, Xi signed an order awarding citations for merit to two military units and five service members.

According to a news release from the military, the new flags were meticulously designed to embody the Party's leadership over the forces, highlight their strategic importance, and inspire troops' sense of honor and mission.

The new flags will join the PLA flag and those of the army, navy, air force and rocket force to form a military flag system aimed at better motivating PLA members to accomplish their missions and build the Chinese military into a world-class force, the release said.

The Central Military Commission has also issued a set of revised guidelines on the use of military flags.

In another development, Dong Jun, China's defense minister, said at a grand reception in Beijing on Thursday, held to mark Army Day on Aug 1, that the Chinese armed forces will continue to uphold Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, steadfastly advance the principle of building the armed forces through political work, intensify combat training and preparedness, and effectively fulfill their missions and tasks in the new era.

"We will never tolerate any 'Taiwan independence' separatist attempts, and stand ready to promptly defeat any external military intervention. The PLA is fully prepared to ensure the complete reunification of the motherland," Dong told attendees.

The minister noted that the Chinese military is committed to working with armed forces worldwide to address risks and challenges collectively.

"Together, we aim to build a world characterized by lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, and ecological sustainability," Dong said.