Yesterday afternoon, the PLA delegation attending the 4th Session of the 10th National People's Congress started to review in groups the government work report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao. While offering their comments, the PLA deputies all stated that 2006 is the first-year of the 11th Five Year Plan and likewise an important year to speed up the military changes with Chinese characteristics.

The deputies expressed their unanimous view that to strengthen the national defense and army building is a vital strategic task of socialist modernization and a paramount guarantee of safeguarding the security and unification of the state. As the army building is a long-term and arduous task, efforts must be made to hold high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of "Three Represents" to earnestly carry out the scientific outlook on development, follow resolutely the directions of the Central Committee of the CPC, the Central Military Commission and Chairman Hu Jintao, firmly take Mao Zedong's military thought, Deng Xiaoping's thought on army building in the new period and Jiang Zemin's thinking on national defense and army building as the guidance, take the scientific outlook on development as the important guideline for strengthening national defense and army building, maintain the fundamental principle and system of absolute Party leadership over the army, bear in mind the task of effectively fulfilling the historical missions of the army in the new century and new stage, expedite the military changes with Chinese characteristics, and improve the overall defense and operation capability of the army under the informationalization conditions.

Source: PLA Daily