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In Celebration of the 94th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Liberation Army of China
2021-07-27 20:31

     
August 1st this year marks the 94th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China. Over the past 94 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese military has blazed a new trail through difficulties and warfare, made great sacrifices, won glorious victories one after another and created great historical achievements for the Party and the people. Entering the New Era, guided by the Xi Jinping Thoughts on strengthening the military, the PLA stays true to the original aspiration and founding mission and has faithfully fulfilled every task entrusted by the Party and the people. History and reality prove that the Chinese military provides not only solid protection to the national sovereignty, security and development interest of China, but also robust support to the global peace and progress.

The Chinese nation has always advocated peace and opposed militarism. Since its founding more than 70 years ago, the People's Republic of China has never started any war or provoked any conflict. The Chinese military has never taken by force an inch of land from any other country. It is not by engaging in military expansion or colonial plunder that China has grown from a poor and weak country to the world's second largest economy today. China unswervingly pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. The development of China's national defense aims to meet its own security needs. China never follows the beaten trail of previous powers seeking hegemony. Faced with multiple and complex security threats and challenges, the Chinese military will continue to resolutely safeguard national interests, defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The PLA will never allow the secession of any part of Chinese territory by anyone or any force, by any means at any time.

The Chinese military has been a staunch force for world peace, stability and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. It has been continuously deepening exchanges and cooperation with the armed forces of other countries, actively participating in international and regional security affairs, and providing a large number of public security goods to the international community. We have been firmly participating in the UN peacekeeping operations. This year marks the 31st anniversary of the Chinese military's participation in the UNPKOs. Over the past 31 years, China has sent more than 40,000 peacekeepers to 25 UN peacekeeping missions, and has become the second largest contributor to UN peacekeeping assessment and the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. Sixteen Chinese military personnel have sacrificed their lives in the UN peacekeeping missions. We have been actively safeguarding the security of international maritime passages. Since 2008, China has organized 38 naval convoys to carry out escort operations in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. In total, escort has been provided to nearly 7,000 ships in more than 1,400 batches, half of which were non-Chinese commercial ships. We have been continuously facilitating international and regional counter-terrorism cooperation. Over the years, China has organized a series of "Peace Mission" military exercises and international counter-terrorism intelligence exchanges under the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and has hosted the "Great Wall" international forum on counter-terrorism. Additionally, the PLA takes an active part in international efforts for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions outside China's borders, dispatches professional rescue forces to the affected countries, provides relief materials and medical aid, and strengthens international exchanges in this respect. It fully demonstrates that the PLA is committed to honoring its international responsibilities as the armed forces of a main power. Since the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world, the Chinese military has not only made outstanding contributions to the significant strategic results achieved in the prevention and control of the pandemic in China, but also has been actively cooperating with defense establishment and armed forces of other countries. In the future, we will remain committed to providing the world with public security products, especially work together with partners across the world to tide over the current difficulties, and contribute our strength to securing a final victory against the pandemic by joining hands in a spirit of solidarity.

In recent years, China and Greece have conducted fruitful cooperation in various fields. The successful mutual visits between the two presidents in 2019 ushered in a new era for the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership. In this context, China-Greece military relations have been developing continuously. It is worth mentioning that the Chinese Defense Minister paid a successful visit to Greece in March this year after 14 years since last visit, which has added new momentum to further practical cooperation between the two militaries. We believe that when the pandemic is under global control, the practical cooperation between the two militaries will surely reach a new level, thus helping achieve new results in the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership.

 

"Marching under the Banner of the Communist Party of China - the People's Military Celebrating the Centenary of the CPC". The exhibition provides a comprehensive review of the glorious history of the Party's creating and leading of the People's military, and highlights the new journey of the PLA in building a strong military in the new era.

Click here to download and watch the exhibition.

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