Chinese defense minister Liang Guanglie Saturday stressed the importance of defense mobilization, saying the work on military preparedness will help enhance national security and stability.

Liang, also a member of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor, made the remarks at a meeting of the Defense Mobilization Committee under the Chengdu Military Area Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

He said southwest China is strategically important to the nation and shoulders tremendous responsibility for military preparedness.

"This means governments at all levels in the region must attach great importance to the work of defense mobilization," he said, adding that economic and social development should better contribute to the improvement of the mobilization system.

"We must have a clear vision on new challenges caused by unconventional threats to national security," he said.

The minister also urged beefing up the emergency response capacity of the defense mobilization system. This has become an acute task after the devastating earthquake in Sichuan Province last year, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2009)