China's Central Military Commission (CMC) Sunday conferred the rank of general on 15 senior military officers in Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the central government in Beijing.

CMC Chairman Jiang Zemin awarded the officers certificates of command at the ceremony. An order for the promotion was announced by President Hu Jintao, who is also vice chairman of the CMC.

The senior officers include Ge Zhenfeng, Zhang Li, You Xigui, Zhang Wentai, Hu Yanlin, Zheng Shenxia, Zhao Kemin, Zhu Qi, Li Qianyuan, Liu Dongdong, Lei Mingqiu, Liu Zhenwu, Yang Deqing, Wu Shuangzhan and Sui Mingtai, who come from the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), the PLA's general logistics department, the PLA's navy, the PLA Academy of Military Sciences, the University of National Defense, Military Area Commands in Beijing, Lanzhou, Jinan, Nanjing, Guangzhou and the Chinese People's Armed Police Force respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2004)