BEIJING, Dec. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, recently signed the Provisions on the Advance Study of Equipment of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), a PLA spokesman said.

    The decree, which comprises eight articles and 45 clauses, deals with research activities prior to the study of new military equipment, which is aimed at providing technical support to the study of new equipment, so as to reduce risks in the research work.

    A spokesman for the PLA General Armament Department said the issuance of the new regulations provides a legal ground for the advance study of military equipment and it is of great importance to and far-reaching impact on China's military modernization. Enditem