President Hu calls for redoubled efforts to step up defense, army building

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 03-11-2008 08:38

Chinese President Hu Jintao has called for redoubled efforts to step up defense and army building. He says this will guarantee national security and make greater contribution to world peace.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C),who is also general secretary  of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and  chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks to the  deputies of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to  the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC)  in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2008. Hu Jintao attended  the plenary meeting of the PLA delegation and made a speech on  Monday.(Xinhua Photo)

Hu Jintao, who's also chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered the message on Monday in his meeting with NPC deputies from the People's Liberation Army.

The meeting gathered army delegates from across the country. Topping the agenda is how to build China's military and defense system in a scientific and innovative way.

President Hu Jintao emphasized the key role of the defense and military system in maintaining the stable running of the country's development. He said strengthening the defense and military is a guarantee for socialist construction with Chinese characteristics, and could do more for world peace.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is also general secretary  of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and  chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks to the  deputies of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) to  the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC)  in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2008. Hu Jintao attended  the plenary meeting of the PLA delegation and made a speech on  Monday.(Xinhua Photo)

To this end, Hu Jintao encouraged officers and soldiers to liberate their minds, and keep reforming methods in the process. He said reform and innovation are engines for scientific development, and help activate the traditional mechanism.

Hu Jintao called for accelerating the modernization of the military, and bringing training into the age of information and technology.

The president also underscored the policy of the coordinated development the economy and defense construction. He said it's important to promote defense and military modernization based on the achievements of China's economic and social development.

Hu Jintao also praised the army for its contribution to the relief and reconstruction work after the winter snow storms in Southern China. He called for keeping this spirit alive in more battles in the future in building a well-off society, and being worthy of the title "the people's army."

Editor:Zhang Ning