Building up a competent military to promote world peace

On 1 August 2023, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China marks its 96th anniversary since its founding.Over the past 96 years, the People’s Army has evolved with the progress of the country, and has performed meritorious service for the country’s security and prosperity, and the people’s well-being.Over the past decade, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the PLA has established combat effectiveness as the sole criterion and acted with resolve to focus on combat readiness. Coordinated efforts have been made to strengthen military work in all directions and domains, and great energy has been devoted to training under combat conditions. Bold reforms of national defence and the armed forces have been carried out, restructuring the military leadership and command systems, the modern armed forces system, and the military policy system.Achieving the goals for the centenary of the PLA and more quickly elevating the people’s armed forces to higher standards are strategic tasks for building a modern socialist country in all respects. To this end, political loyalty is being enhanced in the military.Staunch force for peaceThe PLA will be strengthened through reform, science and technology, and personnel training and run in accordance with the law. Simultaneously, operations will be carried out to boost combat preparedness and enhance military capabilities.The PLA will continue the integrated development of the military through mechanisation, informatisation and the application of smart technologies and work faster to modernise military theory, organisational forms, personnel, weaponry and equipment. The PLA will also enhance its strategic capabilities for defending China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.Faithfully accomplishing its missions and tasks in the new era, China’s armed forces have proven to be a staunch force in maintaining world peace. Chinese peacekeepers were dispatched to different parts of the world, including South Sudan, Lebanon, and the DRC, where they shoulder their responsibilities of safeguarding world peace, with a number of soldiers sacrificing their lives in the line of duty.In addition, the peaceful Chinese armed forces have actively participated in bilateral or multilateral joint exercises, trainings and competitions and have undertaken humanitarian assistance missions, honouring their commitment to upholding and acting on true multilateralism while actively contributing to building a community with a shared future for humanity.With the world undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, the PLA will actively implement the Global Security Initiative (GSI) put forward by President Xi. The GSI is a new approach for improving global security based on the principle of "indivisible security".Universal securityThis is a timely initiative in a troubled and divided world. This initiative calls for solidarity, dialogue and inclusiveness over confrontation and exclusiveness.Recent developments in the global situation showed once again that military interventionism and expansionism caused nothing but harm. It’s better to advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom than to form small circles or play zero-sum games.Achieving lasting peace and universal security is the common aspiration of the Chinese and African people. At the second China-Africa Peace and Security Forum Ministerial Meeting held last year, China proposed that the two sides maintain close strategic communication, strengthen equipment technological cooperation, deepen joint maritime training exercises, and expand exchanges in professional fields, so as to promote more substantially China-Africa peace and security cooperation and move towards the promising vision of jointly building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.Africa-China relationsAs stated in the GSI Concept Paper, China will support the efforts of African countries, the African Union (AU), and sub-regional organisations to resolve regional conflicts, fight terrorism and safeguard maritime security; call on the international community to provide financial and technical support to Africa-led counter-terrorism operations; and support African countries in strengthening their ability to safeguard peace independently.Support addressing African problems in the African way and promote peaceful settlement of hotspots in the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, the Great Lakes region, and other areas. Support the implementation of the initiative of Silencing the Guns in Africa.Actively implement the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa, promote the institutionalisation of the China-Horn of Africa Peace, Governance and Development Conference, and work actively to launch pilot projects of cooperation.The PLA of China and the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) have long forged a brotherly friendship. Various forms of cooperation have been carried out in the defence sector. And both the civilian and military leaders of the two countries share the same or similar views regarding global and regional security issues. No matter how the international situation changes, the PLA will adhere to its international responsibilities and obligations, hold high the banner of win-win cooperation, and honour its commitment with tangible actions by providing more public security goods to the international community and working hand in hand with the armies of other countries, including the NDF.The PLA will mark the 100th anniversary of its founding in four years. By that time and beyond, China will always, as ever before, be a promoter of world peace, a contributor to global development, and an upholder of the international order, and hence the Chinese army will always play its part in promoting world peace.

Building up a competent military to promote world peace

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-31

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Building up a competent military to promote world peace

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-31

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