Chinese Central Military Commission Chairman Hu Jintao has issued an order on implementing the regulation of headquarters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Scheduled to take effect from April 1, the regulation is the fifth of its kind since the PLA was established. It is a basic regulation on military affairs of the PLA and a fundamental guideline for work of headquarters at various levels.

The regulation is comprised of 90 articles in 12 chapters with two appendixes. It adds one chapter on organizing and guiding emergency management.

For the first time a "scientific view of development" is written in the regulation as an important guideline of the army.

The PLA has had four revisions of its military commands which were issued respectively in 1938, 1977, 1983 and 1996.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2006)