Minister of Public Security Zhou Yongkang has pledged to further strengthen and improve police force, so as to consolidate the rule of the Communist Party (CPC) and to ensure the country's long-term stability and people's peace and happy life.

He urged the police to take Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents" as guiding ideology, seriously implement the essence of the Fifth Session of the 16th CPC Central Committee, and utilize the "scientific concept of development" to guide the work of public security and the building of police force.

Zhou, also member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and state councilor, remarked these at Saturday's meeting attended by heads of provincial-level public security departments.

In his speech, he highlighted the importance of standardizing police force and improve its quality as a whole.

According to the official, the ministry plans to make 2006 the "Year of Grassroots Building", in an effort to standardize, improve and regularize Chinese police force, to meet long-term requirements.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2005)