Top generals of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) have vowed to adhere to the absolute leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) over the military, and to ensure the PLA does a good job to welcome the Party's National Congress scheduled for this year.

 

"We must unswervingly adhere to the fundamental principle and system of the Party's absolute leadership over the military, and make sure that the troops will obey the command of the Party Central Committee, the Central Military Commission and (CMC) Chairman Hu Jintao at any time and under any circumstances," said General Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of the CMC, at a panel discussion with other lawmakers from the PLA.

 

Guo and his fellow lawmakers are gathering in Beijing for the annual full session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature. The lawmakers, after hearing a report on the government work by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the opening of the NPC session on Monday, have been discussing the report since Monday afternoon through Tuesday.

 

"We must work hard to promote army building on a sound and fast track, and do an excellent job to welcome the convening of the Party's 17th National Congress," said Guo, adding that the army must "carry out strict training and step up preparations for military struggle".

 

The 17th National Congress of the CPC is scheduled to be held in the latter half of the year.

 

Xu Caihou, another CMC vice chairman and also an NPC deputy, pointed out at the panel discussion that the ongoing NPC session is an important meeting held prior to the 17th CPC National Congress.

 

"The entire Party and military, as well as people of all ethnic groups across the country, cherish a high degree of trust on the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as general secretary, and have full confidence in the bright development prospects of the nation," Xu said.

 

"We must adhere to the Party's absolute leadership and ensure the correct orientation of army building," he added.

 

Cao Gangchuan, China's defense minister and also a CMC vice chairman, said that it is important to ensure the Party has a firm control of the military "ideologically, politically and organizationally".

 

Faced with a complicated and rapidly changing international situation, all soldiers and officers of the PLA must "heighten their sense of crisis and sense of mission", and "quicken the preparations for military struggle in a down-to-earth manner", Cao urged.

 

"We must constantly enhance our capabilities to cope with a host of security threats and accomplish diversified military missions, so as to effectively safeguard our nation's security and development interests," he said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2007)