China's first aircraft carrier was delivered and commissioned to the People's Liberation Army Navy on September 25 at a ceremony at a naval base in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province.

President Hu Jintao, also Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Premier Wen Jiabao attended the ceremony.

The carrier, formerly known as the Soviet ship Varyag, was renamed Liaoning and underwent years of refitting to install engines and weapons as well as a year-long sea trial.

According to the CMC, after being commissioned to the Navy, the Liaoning will continue to be used for scientific research purposes, as well as military training.

China is the world's 10th country and the last among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to have an aircraft carrier in active service.

China announced its aircraft carrier program in July 2011 when the carrier was berthed in Dalian for refitting.