Special report: Marking 80th anniversary of PLA 

Chinese President Hu Jintao, who is also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses the grand rally marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, August 1, 2007.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao spoke highly of the historic contributions the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has made to the country and the people since its founding 80 years ago.

    Hu, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remark when addressing a gathering to mark the 80th founding anniversary of the PLA on Wednesday.

    In the past 80 years, the PLA has, under the CPC's leadership, fought courageously in fulfilling its mission and made indelible historic contributions to China's liberation cause, socialist construction and reform drives as well as in safeguarding the national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, Hu said.

    The PLA has stood firmly with the people of all ethnic groups and served the people heart and soul, and played an important role in upholding world peace and promoting human progress, Hu said.

    "The PLA is internationally renowned as a mighty, disciplined and peaceful army, and has won trust and high commendation of the Party and the people," he said.

    On Aug. 1, 1927, Communist-led armed forces held an uprising in Nanchang City, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, which marks the birth of the armed forces of the CPC.

    The Nanchang Uprising marked the first shot in the fight against the Kuomintang reactionaries, and has been recorded as a great event in China's revolutionary history. Aug. 1, 1927 is now remembered as the PLA's founding day.

    The PLA has made great contributions to the national independence, prosperity and strength, and the well-being of the people over the past 80 years, under the leadership of three generations of the Party's collective leadership with Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin at its core respectively, and under the leadership of the collective leadership of the Party formed since the Party's 16th National Congress.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C Front) and other Chinese leaders attend the grand rally marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, August 1, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    With 22 years of arduous struggle spanning the Agrarian Revolutionary War, the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the War of Liberation, the PLA defeated enemies from both within and outside the country and created fundamental conditions for the founding of a New China, Hu said.

    After that, it has closely guarded China's long border and vast territorial sea, successfully performed its defense responsibilities in Hong Kong and Macao, and effectively destroyed various separatist schemes and sabotage that threaten the national security and unity, he said.

    It has also provided strong support to the country's economic and social development by helping build key engineering projects that are vital to the national economy and people's welfare and assisting local governments in dealing with emergencies and combating natural disasters, he said.

    "Our people's army has also made important contribution in safeguarding world peace through extensive exchanges with their foreign counterparts, active participation in UN peacekeeping missions and international disaster relief operations and enhanced international counter-terrorism cooperation," he added.

    The rally was presided over by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R Front) and other Chinese leaders meet with veterans during a grand rally marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, August 1, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

President Hu stresses Party loyalty at PLA birthday rally

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of servicemen from China's land, navy and air forces wore their new uniforms on Wednesday at a grand rally marking the PLA's 80th anniversary on which Chinese President Hu Jintao stressed the importance of army loyalty to the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Hu urges sci-tech progress for enhancing combat capabilities

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Wednesday that the combat capabilities of the armed forces should be strengthened through scientific and technological progress, especially through the introduction of information technologies.

Hu reiterates absolute CPC leadership over armed forces

BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao reiterated the absolute leadership of the Communist Party of China(CPC) over the armed forces in a speech here Wednesday. 

President Hu: PLA aiming to forestall, win war 

BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Wednesday that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) must be able to effectively manage crises, uphold peace and forestall war, and win the war should it occur.  

President Hu: China's armed forces more modernized, professional

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has grown in strength and become more modernized and professional through eight decades of development, President Hu Jintao said on Wednesday. 

President Hu: China to build "slim but strong" armed forces

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Wednesday that China is to build "slim but strong" armed forces and strike a sound balance between speed, quality and efficiency in the modernization drive of the country's 2.3 million-member troops.

President Hu urges developing defense-related science, technology

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- China should accelerate the upgrading of defense-related science and technology and weaponry, Chinese President Hu Jintao said here on Wednesday.

President: China to "gradually" increase defense budget

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Wednesday that China is going to gradually increase its defense budget while its national economy grows.

President Hu stresses PLA's loyalty to CPC

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao stressed here Wednesday the loyalty of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to the Communist Party of China (CPC).

President Hu urges to improve national defense mobilization system 

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- China should improve its national defense mobilization system, Chinese President Hu Jintao said here on Wednesday.

PLA heroes vow to follow command of CPC

    BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Yang Liwei, the first Chinese astronaut in space, said here on Wednesday that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) would continue to follow the command of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

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