Xi: Advance modernization of military

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has called for efforts to strengthen political guidance and deepen innovation-driven development to advance the high-quality modernization of national defense and the armed forces.

Xi, who is also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Thursday when presiding over a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

He urged efforts to fulfill the goals for the centenary of the People's Liberation Army in 2027 and make "decisive progress" in basically realizing the modernization of national defense and the armed forces. This, he said, will provide strong strategic support for advancing the cause of building a great country and achieving national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.

The study session was held ahead of the founding anniversary of the PLA, which falls on Saturday. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, Xi extended festival greetings to all members of the PLA and the People's Armed Police Force, civilian personnel of the PLA, and members of the reserve forces and the militia.

Xi said that since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has made comprehensive efforts to enhance political loyalty in the military, strengthen the military through reform, personnel training and science and technology, and run the military in accordance with the law.

By simultaneously carrying out operations, strengthening combat preparedness and enhancing military capabilities, the Chinese military has significantly improved its modernization level and become a capable fighting force, making historic achievements and transformations, he said.

Emphasizing the importance of ensuring political loyalty in the military, Xi urged upholding and strengthening the absolute leadership of the Party over the armed forces. Efforts should be made to ensure that military officers and soldiers follow the Party and that they always obey the Party's commands, he said.

Xi called for unremitting efforts to fight against corruption, improve the supervision system for major projects and ensure that all initiatives are underpinned by quality, capability and integrity.

He noted the importance of combat effectiveness in the high-quality modernization of national defense and the armed forces, saying that it is essential to enhance the military application of unmanned intelligent technologies and intensify construction and application of a network information system to gradually build an intelligent military system.

Solid steps should be taken to advance military training and enhance combat preparedness to effectively safeguard China's national sovereignty, security and development interests, he said.

Xi emphasized that consolidating and enhancing integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities is the path the nation must take to achieve high-quality modernization of national defense and the armed forces.

He called for strengthening military governance, optimizing institutional frameworks and improving policies and regulations to strengthen close collaboration between the military and civilian sectors.

In another development, Xi has signed an order to commend Yang Yong from Troop 91548 of the PLA, honoring him with a first-class merit citation in defense-related science and technology.

China has also commended and honored 12 military officers and soldiers as "the most beautiful revolutionary personnel of the new era", according to a joint announcement on Friday by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the Political Work Department of the CMC.