Chinese Defense Ministry hosted a new year reception to foreign defense attaches, assistant defense attaches and their wives in Beijing Wednesday evening.

Chinese Defense Minister, Vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and State Councilor Cao Gangchuan (L) toasts with a Pakistani defense attache in Beijing Jan. 12, 2005.

In his toast, Zhang Bangdong, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the ministry, first expressed sympathy and condolences to tsunami-ravaged South and Southeast Asian nations, saying "the officers and soldiers of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) are sympathetic with the people of those nations and express profound condolences over the deaths incurred."

Zhang said that the year 2004 had seen remarkable progress made in the reform and building of the Chinese armed forces.

"The military building was carried out in a steadfast and right political direction and the military reform with Chinese characteristics achieved solid results," said Zhang.

Significant progress was also made in the building of arms and equipment and national defense technology. The system restructuring was almost completed and the reform on logistics went on smoothly, Zhang said.

The exchange and cooperation with other militaries were further deepened, according to Zhang.

As an important year for China to build a well-off society in an all-round way, the year 2005 is also vital for PLA to leap forward in its modernization drive, Zhang said. "The PLA will make best of opportunities and pay unremitting efforts to advance the military reform with Chinese characteristics."

Chinese Defense Minister, Vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and State Councilor Cao Gangchuan and seven other CMC members, namely Chief of the PLA General Staff Liang Guanglie, Director of the PLA General Political Department Li Jinai, Director of the PLA General Logistics Department Liao Xilong, Director of the PLA General Armament Department Chen Bingde, Commander of the PLA Air Force Qiao Qingchen, Commander of the PLA Navy Zhang Dingfa and Commander of the PLA Second Artillery Force Jing Zhiyuan, were among the guests present at the reception.