Chinese amb. addresses ceremony to celebrate National Army Day

Chinese embassy in Tehran has hosted a ceremony to celebrate the 89th Anniversary of Founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, AVA Diplomatic reports.

The text of the High Honorable Ambassador to Tehran Pang Sen:

“Welcome to you all for joining us here at the Chinese Embassy in celebrating the 89″ anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

I believe most of you have just watched a short DVD on today’s PLA. Since its founding on August 1, 1927, particularly since the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, the PLA has grown from a single service into a strong military force featuring a range of services and arms. It shoulders the glorious mission and sacred duty of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and has made due contributions to the maintenance of world peace and regional stability.”

“The PLA has been proactively and steadily pushing forward its reforms in line with the requirements of performing its missions and tasks, and building an informationized military. Recently, the Central Military Commission released a guideline on deepening national defense and military reforms. According to the guideline, a new military structure will be implemented in which the CMC takes charge of the overall military administration, theater commands focus on combat preparedness and the different services pursue development.”

“A slew of measures began in December 2015 with the inauguration of the general commands of the PLA Army, the PLA Rocket Force and the PLA Strategic Support Force. Shortly afterwards, the former military headquarters-staff, politics, logistics and armaments-were reorganized into 15 new agencies under the CMC. In February 2016, five theater commands were established, replacing the seven military area commands. The reform will also include cutting troops from 2.3 million to 2 million. The move to deepen defense and military reform is aimed at breaking down systematic, structural and policy barriers, modernizing the organization of the military and unleashing the combat capacity of the military. It is also aimed at building a firm defense and strong military commensurate with China’s international standing and interests in security and development.”

“The PLA is the initiator and facilitator of and participant in international security cooperation. It upholds the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, conduct all-round military exchanges with other countries, and develop cooperative military relations that are non-aligned, non-confrontational and not directed against any third party. The PLA promotes the establishment of just and effective collective security mechanisms and military confidence-building mechanisms. Bearing in mind the concept of openness, pragmatism and cooperation, the PLA increases its interactions and cooperation with other armed forces, and intensifies cooperation on confidence-building measures (CBMs) in border areas.”

“The PLA works to promote dialogue and cooperation on maritime security; participate in UN peacekeeping missions, international counter-terrorism cooperation, and international merchant shipping protection and disaster relief operations; conduct joint exercises and training with foreign counterparts; conscientiously assumes its due international responsibilities; and play an active role in maintaining world peace, security and stability.”

“To conclude, I wish to take this opportunity to thank you once again for coming here this evening.”