China's military would increase cooperation with foreign armed forces in order to contribute more to common development, Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said on Thursday.

A reception is held by the Denfense Ministry of China to celebrate the 81th Army Day which will fall on August 1 with the attendance of Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie, Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)Chen Bingde, Head of the General Political Department of the PLA Li Jinai, Director of the PLA General Logistics Department Liao Xilong, Commander of the Second Artillery Force of PLA Jing Zhiyuan, Navy Commander of the PLA Wu Shengli and the PLA air force commander Xu Qiliang, in Beijing, China, on July 31, 2008. (Xinhua/Wang Jianmin)

At a reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the 81st anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Liang said, "China will take the road of peaceful development, unswervingly, and carry out an independent and self-reliant, peaceful diplomatic policy and a defensive defense policy, no matter how the international situation changes."

A member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and a state councilor, Liang stressed the fundamental necessity of the Army's acceptance of "the absolute leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC)".

China would never take to hegemonism and expansionism and posed no threat to any other country, Liang said.

He noted the "positive changes" regarding the situation across the Taiwan Straits, while pointing out that pro-independence forces in Taiwan had never abandon their activities.

"We are strongly determined to oppose and curb the separatist activities of 'Taiwan independence' forces," he said.

The mainland would show its utmost sincerity and exert its greatest efforts for the welfare of Chinese compatriots on both sides of the Straits, to seek peace, safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and safeguard the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.

Liang also praised the efforts of the armed forces during the severe winter weather chaos at the start of the year and after the May 12 earthquake.

The reception was attended by other CMC members, including Chen Bingde, Li Jinai, Liao Xilong, Jing Zhiyuan, Wu Shengli and Xu Qiliang, as well as foreign military attaches.

In August 1927, the CPC-led armed forces held an uprising against warlords, which is regarded as the founding day of the services.