Chinese soldiers have begun closed-door trainings to present a "most splendid and distinctive" parade for National Day celebrations in October, a People's Liberation Army (PLA) general said Monday.

Fang Fenghui, commander of the Beijing Military Area Command, said the number of soldiers attending the parade would be similar with previous years, and that they are making careful preparations to present "a most splendid and distinctive grand ceremony to the world."

A "parade village" for the troops to live in is also under construction in the mean time, said Fang who is also the commander-in-chief of the parade.

He stressed, on the sidelines of the annual parliament session, that the parade would be a grand occasion prepared in a thrifty manner.

"China now faces serious challenges from the financial crisis, so it is important that we hold the parade frugally," said Feng, a deputy to the National People's Congress.

"For instance, the 'parade village' project was contracted through an open bidding in order to cut down the costs while ensuring quality," he said.

According to Fang, the parade would include China's most recently developed military equipment to showcase the country's progress in its defense power.

"Advanced military equipment would surely be one of the parade's highlights, but not all," he said, "The parade will definitely bring surprises to the people of the nation."

He added that the troops and military equipment to be presented during the parade would not make public appearances before Oct. 1.

"The decision is not aiming to project a sense of mystery toward the parade, but to ensure the trainings to proceed according to our schedules," he said.

The parade, to be held on Oct. 1 to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, will involve more arms and weapons than all previous parades, according to an order of the Central Military Commission (CMC) last month.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2009)