BEIJING - President Xi Jinping Friday conferred the flag to the new national fire and rescue team, ordering them to be loyal to the Party, disciplined and devoted to the people.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed that the new team should stand out when the people are in most need, save them from disasters, assist them in crisis and heroically fight for their life and property safety.

The national fire and rescue team was formed based on the country's fire services and armed forestry police.