(Xinhua/Li Gang)
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday stressed the importance of fully exploiting the unique strengths of strengthening political loyalty in the military, and called for concerted efforts to promote the modernization of national defense and armed forces in a steady and sustainable manner.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks while attending a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police Force at the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress, China’s national legislature.
Six lawmakers spoke at the meeting. After listening to their remarks, Xi delivered an important speech.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Party Central Committee has led the armed forces to improve political rectification and promote political loyalty in the military with unprecedented determination and intensity, achieving important results, Xi said.
There should be no place in the army for those who are disloyal to the Party, nor for corrupt elements, Xi warned, adding that the fight against corruption should be waged relentlessly.
From the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), efforts should be made to establish rigorous rules of strict supervision and closely monitor key areas such as financial flows, exercise of power and quality control, Xi said.
It is essential to fully strengthen Party leadership and Party building in the military, and make Party organizations at all levels even stronger, Xi said, stressing the need to translate the strength of Party leadership into development momentum.
It is important to consolidate the ideological foundations that ensure that officers and soldiers follow the Party and its directives, and to ensure that modern weapons and equipment are placed in the hands of politically committed personnel, he said.
Xi called for systematically training personnel in joint operations, new types of combat forces, high-level scientific and technological innovation and high-level strategic management.
He also stressed the need to vigorously perpetuate and promote the fine traditions of the Party and the military.
Zhang Shengmin, vice president of the CMC, attended the meeting.
(Xinhua/Li Gang)
