Congratulatory Remarks to Celebrate the 95th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army
by Senior Colonel Zhang Lu, Defense Attache
of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands
On 1st August 95 years ago, the Nanchang Uprising marked the birth of the people’s army under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Over the past 95 years, the people’s army has made great sacrifice in defiance of the dangers of war and various obstacles and challenges, achieved tremendous victories in advancing the dignity, prosperity and strength of the Chinese people, and made important contributions to world peace, prosperity and development.
In the past 95 years, the people’s army lived up to their commitments and kept pursuing this great course. Guided by Xi Jinping thought on strengthening the military, China’s national defense and military development in the new era has made historical reforms and achievements, and the people’s army has been through all-around revolutionary restructuring, unswervingly adhering to the absolute leadership of the Communist Party of China over the armed forces, following the CMC (Central Military Commission) Chairman responsibility system, and endeavoring to the enforcement of ethical standards and anti-corruption measures. China has carried out the most extensive and profound reform of national defense and the armed forces since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, reshaping the leadership and command system of the military, the system of modern military forces, and the system of military policies. The People’s Liberation Army(PLA) uphold combat effectiveness as the sole and fundamental criterion of all military endeavors, establish military strategic guideline for the new era, vigorously strengthen training under combat conditions, carry out military struggles in a flexible manner, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests.
Our world today is living through accelerating changes unseen in a century and beset by constantly emerging traditional and non-traditional security threats. The prevailing trend of peace and development is facing serious challenges. At this moment critical to world peace and development, President Xi Jinping proposed for the first time the Global Security Initiative at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022, and contributes China’s wisdom and solution to addressing international security challenges, resolving global security dilemma, and building a community with a shared future for mankind. China’s armed forces faithfully respond to the call for a community with a shared future for mankind and firmly implement global security initiatives. The Chinese military is actively fulfilling the international obligations of the armed forces of a major country, comprehensively promoting international military cooperation for the new era, and striving for a better world of lasting peace and common security.
The socialist system of China, the strategic decision to follow the path of peaceful development, the independent foreign policy of peace, and the best of cultural traditions – considering peace and harmony as fundamentals – determine that China will pursue a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. History has proved time and again that China is always a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, defender of the international order and provider of public goods. As the largest troop contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, China actively supports the UN Peacekeeping Operations. Over the past 30 years, China has sent about 50,000 peacekeepers to 25 UN peacekeeping missions. China’s armed forces have faithfully performed their duties and made positive contributions to international and regional counter-terrorism cooperation. The PLA navy ships have been playing an important role in the escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia. China’s armed forces actively take part in international cooperation in fighting the pandemic and in humanitarian rescue operations, providing material assistance and vaccines to over 50 militaries since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level between China and the Netherlands. Heads of state and government exchanged congratulatory messages and set the direction for the sustainable, healthy and stable development of Sino-Dutch relations. Military-to-military relationship is an important part of the open and pragmatic partnership for comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. The Chinese military attaches great importance to its ties with the Netherlands military and is willing to work with the Netherlands military to implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the field of defense in a steady and continuous fashion, so as to contribute to our common efforts to promote world peace, development and the benefit of the people of the two countries.