State Councilor and Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan called for further popularizing and strengthening national defense education at a gathering held Saturday to mark China's Fourth National Defense Day.

Cao, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), addressed the gathering on behalf of the State Council, the CMC and the State Commission for the Mobilization of National Defense.

He urged local party committees and governments, as well as military authorities, to substantially implement the Law on the Education of National Defense.

Memorial activities were conducted nationwide to mark National Defense Day. Sept. 18 is also the 73rd anniversary of the invasion of northeast China by Japanese troops.

In some cities, air-raid sirens were sounded to remind local people of past wars and possible warfare in the future.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2004)