Chinese President Hu Jintao (R Front)
shakes hands with fighting hero Mai Xiande during his meeting with
representatives of veterans, heroes and models of the Navy of the Chinese
People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Beijing, capital of China, April 24,
2009, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PLA
Navy. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming) Photo Gallery>>>
BEIJING, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation
Army (PLA) Navy should comprehensively push forward its modernization to
constantly enhance its capability to carry out its missions in the new century
and new phase, Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Friday.
Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission,
made the remarks when meeting with veteran officers and model soldiers of the
PLA Navy Friday night, a day after the 60th anniversary of the founding of the
PLA naval force.
Hu first paid respects to the veteran officers and
model soldiers for their contributions to the development of the navy and
extended regards to all members of the navy.
He expressed his hope that these officers and
soldiers would continue to play a leading role in contributing wisdom and
strength to the navy's development.
Through six decades of development, a relatively
modern naval force consisting of combined arms had taken shape thanks to the
leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Central
Military Commission, the support of the people, and unremitting efforts by naval
officers and soldiers, Hu said.
The navy had played an important role in protecting
China's sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity, promoting the
reform and opening up drive and socialist modernization, and safeguarding world
peace and development, he said.
The president expressed hope that the navy would
achieve further development.
Thursday morning, Hu reiterated that the country's
military build-up was purely defense-oriented.
In a meeting with heads of 29 foreign navy
delegations gathered for the PLA Navy's anniversary celebration, Hu pledged that
China's armed forces, including the navy, would never be a threat to other
nations.
China would always be an important force in
safeguarding world peace and development, he said.
"For now and in the future, China would never seek
hegemony, nor would it turn to military expansion or arms races with other
nations," he said.
