Better Information About Chinese Army on Tap

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, August 09, 2002

Better Information About Chinese Army on Tap

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The Chinese military is willing to open its door to the international community so foreign personnel can understand the development of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), said a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence Thursday.

Fifty-five foreign military attaches and deputy military attaches from 48 countries attended a briefing yesterday on the Chinese military's housing reform.

Organized by the defence ministry, the briefing is the first of its kind this year, according to the spokesman, who noted that three briefings focusing on various topics such as China's stance on arms control were held last year. He did not say specifically how many will be held this year.

"We're ready to set up more exchanges between the PLA and foreign peoples and their armed forces," said the spokesman.

Senior officials from the General Logistics Department of the PLA were invited yesterday to introduce the process of Chinese military housing reform and its initial achievements to the foreign military attaches.

Shen Yuexiang, deputy director of the housing construction bureau of the General Logistics Department said that a relatively comprehensive housing system based on Chinese military reality has been established.

The old housing system of unified housing placement of officers on the active list brought a large burden to the army and the government, said Shen.

According to the old system, the army was required to provide those officers who have served more than 15 years with houses according to their ranks. The relevant national departments and local governments were responsible for housing for those armymen who transferred to civilian work, as well as retired officers.

China has adopted a market-orientated housing policy since 1992. The PLA began to consider improving the army's housing system, said Shen.

A detailed plan that mainly commercialized housing and stopped the use of housing as a form of welfare stimulated housing reform in the PLA.

According to the army's new housing system, housing subsidies and public housing fund-raising systems were established for armymen's purchase of houses.

An amount equal to 40 per cent of basic wages will be granted as a housing subsidy to officers' individual accounts.

Armymen are now encouraged to buy economically affordable houses of good quality, said Shen.

"Now, about 10 per cent to 15 per cent of armymen have bought their own houses," he said.

The nationwide housing reform in the army aims to improve the living standard of armymen and reduce the army's burden as well, Shen said.

China Daily contributes to this report

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