Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan addresses a reception held by the Ministry of National Defense to celebrate the 89th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2016. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)
BEIJING, July 31 (Xinhua) -- China firmly adheres to peaceful development and a defensive defense policy, Defense Minister Chang Wanquan said at a reception celebrating the 89th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Sunday, a day ahead of China's Army Day.
The reception, presided over by Chang, hosted guests from all branches of the Chinese army, government bodies and foreign embassies, as well as representatives of veterans, retired army officials and relatives of heroes.
Stressing that the Chinese military will firmly safeguard state sovereignty, national security and development interests, Chang said in his opening remarks that territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests will be defended.
"We are confident in addressing security threats and provocations," said Chang, adding that the Chinese military will "always stand ready to be called upon and be able to fight and win at request of the nation and its people."
Chang said the PLA has emerged from grueling years of war and is "destined not to fear war, but will definitely cherish peace."
"We want peace, not war; cooperation, not confrontation. This is the common aspiration of people around the world," he said.
He also pledged to stay committed to a national defense policy that is defensive in nature and strengthen participation in global and regional affairs.
"China is willing to provide more public security goods to the international community in areas including the United Nations peacekeeping, counter-terrorism, overseas escort and international disaster relief," he added.
In August 1927, armed forces led by the Communist Party of China held an uprising against warlords. The first day of August was later designated as the PLA's founding day.
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新華社北京7月31日電(記者王經國、臧曉程)中華人民共和國國防部31日在人民大會堂舉行招待會,熱烈慶祝中國人民解放軍建軍89周年。
中央軍委委員、國務委員兼國防部長常萬全致辭。中央軍委委員房峰輝、張陽、趙克石、張又俠、馬曉天、魏鳳和出席招待會。
人民大會堂燈火輝煌,充滿節日氣氛。主席臺帷幕中央懸掛著巨型“八一”軍徽,兩旁是十面鮮艷的紅旗。“1927-2016”幾個醒目的大字,昭示著中國人民解放軍走過了89年的光輝歷程。
18時整,招待會在雄壯的《中國人民解放軍軍歌》聲中開始。常萬全代表黨中央、國務院、中央軍委,向中國人民解放軍指戰員、武裝警察部隊官兵、預備役軍人和廣大民兵致以節日祝賀,向辛勤工作在國防科技工業戰線的同志們致以誠摯問候,向為中國人民解放軍建設作出重要貢獻的離退休老同志、轉業退伍軍人、革命傷殘軍人和烈軍屬表示親切慰問,向部隊英模代表、全國雙擁模范代表致以崇高敬意,向長期關心支持國防和軍隊建設的各級黨委和政府、社會團體,向全國各族人民表示衷心感謝,向出席招待會的各國駐華武官和夫人及各位來賓表示熱烈歡迎。
常萬全說,89年來,在中國共產黨的領導下,人民軍隊前赴后繼、英勇奮戰,打敗了國內外強大的敵人,克服了無數的艱難險阻,為中國革命、建設和改革事業,為維護世界和平與安寧,建立了彪炳千秋的偉大功勛。
常萬全指出,建設同我國國際地位相稱、同國家安全與發展利益相適應的鞏固國防和強大軍隊,是我國社會主義現代化建設的戰略任務。在強軍興軍的偉大征程中,中國人民解放軍必須高舉中國特色社會主義偉大旗幟,以馬克思列寧主義、毛澤東思想、鄧小平理論、“三個代表”重要思想、科學發展觀為指導,堅決貫徹習近平總書記系列重要講話精神,牢牢把握黨在新形勢下的強軍目標,全面實施政治建軍、改革強軍、依法治軍,更加注重聚焦實戰,更加注重創新驅動,更加注重體系建設,更加注重集約高效,更加注重軍民融合,努力建設一支聽黨指揮、能打勝仗、作風優良的人民軍隊。要毫不動搖地堅持黨對軍隊的絕對領導,堅決貫徹落實軍委主席負責制,增強政治意識、大局意識、核心意識、看齊意識,確保一切行動堅決聽從黨中央、中央軍委和習主席指揮。要毫不動搖地拓展和深化軍事斗爭準備,始終堅持戰斗力這個唯一的根本的標準,全面提高信息化條件下的實戰能力。要毫不動搖地傳承和弘揚軍隊優良傳統,永遠保持旺盛的革命斗志和艱苦樸素的革命本色。要大力推動軍民融合深度發展,廣泛開展全民國防教育,深入抓好雙擁共建活動,鞏固發展軍政軍民團結。
常萬全強調,中國堅定不移走和平發展道路,愿擴大同各國利益的交匯點,推動構建以合作共贏為核心的新型國際關系,推動形成人類命運和利益共同體。中國堅定不移奉行防御性國防政策,積極參與國際和地區安全事務,愿在聯合國維和、反恐、海外護航、國際災難救援等領域提供更多公共安全產品。中國軍隊堅定不移維護國家主權、安全、發展利益,堅定不移捍衛領土完整和海洋權益,有信心有能力應對各種安全威脅和挑釁行徑,當祖國和人民需要的時候,堅決做到召之即來、來之能戰、戰之必勝。
常萬全指出,堅持“九二共識”、反對“臺獨”是兩岸關系和平發展的政治基礎。對任何人、任何時候、以任何形式進行的分裂國家活動,英雄的人民解放軍、13億多中國人民、整個中華民族都決不會答應!
常萬全最后強調,我們要更加緊密地團結在以習近平同志為總書記的黨中央周圍,不忘初心、繼續前進,開拓創新、銳意進取,艱苦奮斗、扎實工作,為實現中華民族偉大復興的中國夢,為不斷推進人類和平與發展的崇高事業而不懈努力!
軍委機關各部門、駐京各大單位、武警部隊負責人出席招待會。
出席招待會的還有中共中央、國務院有關部門,北京市、對外友協負責人;軍隊離退休老干部代表,部隊英模、首都民兵、烈軍屬、全國雙擁模范、原國民黨起義人員代表以及外國駐華使館武官和夫人等中外嘉賓。