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China"s Ministry of National Defense holds a reception to celebrate the 96th anniversary of the Chinese People"s Liberation Army (PLA) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 31, 2023. (Photo by Xu Dong)

BEIJING, July 31 -- China"s Ministry of National Defense held a reception to celebrate the 96th anniversary of the Chinese People"s Liberation Army (PLA) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on July 31, 2023. State Councilor and Defense Minister General Li Shangfu, who is also a member of the CPC Central Military Commission (CMC), addressed the reception. Other CMC members, including General Liu Zhenli, chief of staff of CMC Joint Staff Department, Admiral Miao Hua, director of CMC Political Work Department, and General Zhang Shengmin, secretary of CMC Discipline Inspection Commission, attended the reception.

In his speech, Defense Minister General Li Shangfu said that in the new era, the Chinese armed forces will comprehensively enhance military training and war preparation, strengthen all-around military governance, consolidate and improve the integrated national strategic system and capability, unswervingly promote national reunification, achieve the centennial goal of military development on schedule, and speed up the building of the PLA into a world-class military.

He also pointed out that the Chinese military will loyally implement the Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping and keep deepening international military exchanges and cooperation, so as to inject more certainties and positive momentum into the current turbulent and intertwined world.

The reception was also attended by representatives of retired military officers, model representatives from troops, representatives of former Kuomintang uprising personnel, other domestic guests, and foreign guests including military attachés to China and their spouses.