President Xi Jinping called for greater and more efficient civil-military integration on Thursday to strengthen the country's ability to defend itself and the combat-readiness of its armed forces.

The implementation of this key national strategy remains at a preliminary phase because of problems such as a lack of top-level coordination and lax implementation, said Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Efforts must be made to ensure "coordinated, balanced and compatible development" of the country's economic and national defense capabilities, he said at a plenary meeting of the People's Liberation Army delegation at the two sessions.