ISpeaking at a panel discussion among PLA deputies to the National
People's Congress (NPC) yesterday, President Jiang Zemin urged
the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to subject itself to the
absolute leadership of the Party while also speeding up its
own modernization processes and enhancing defence combat effectiveness
under high-tech conditions.
The Ninth National
People's Congress (NPC) has been in session in Beijing since
Monday.
Jiang praised the
PLA for its achievements in military modernization over the
past five years and for its excellent performance in major
military exercises and flood relief. He also lauded the military
parade marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the
People's Republic of China and the assumption of defence responsibilities
in Hong Kong and Macao.
He called on the
PLA to make new contributions to the modernization of the
country during the 10th Five-Year Plan period from 2001 to
2005.
The PLA must have
a clear understanding of its historic mission in safeguarding
national security, unity and social stability, the president
said.
He urged the PLA
to retain its sense of political responsibility and remain
aware of its historical mission while expending greater efforts
to enhance its defence combat effectiveness. "The PLA
should closely monitor changing situations, prepare itself
well for various military tasks and help local authorities
maintain social stability."
Jiang stressed
the importance of strengthening political education in the
PLA to ensure the absolute loyalty of the armed forces to
the Party.
To accelerate the
pace of military modernization, Jiang said the PLA must give
priority to the development of advanced defence technologies.
"The enhancement of the PLA's combat effectiveness should
rely mainly on progress in science and technology," he
said.
Vice-President
Hu Jintao was also present at the group discussion.
(Xinhua 03/10/2001)
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