Chinese embassy marks 90th anniversary of liberation army’s founding
Chinese charge d’affaires Zahao Liang and the defense attache of the embassy of the People’s Republic of China Senior Colonel Zhang Ge hosted a reception on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese people’s liberation army.
“This evening we are gathering here in Crown Plaza to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, PLA,” Senior Colonel Zhang Ge said. “First of all, as the Defense Attache of the Chinese Embassy and on behalf of Ambassador Wang and Charge d’ Affairs Zhao, I’d like to extend my warmest welcome and sincere thanks to all of you for your presence. “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army is the people’s army created and led always by the Communist Party of China (CPC). Since its founding on August 1, 1927, the PLA has played an important role and written the most glorious chapter in the modern history of China, making indelible contributions in the founding, construction and safeguarding the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of New China. Over the 90-year developing process, the PLA has grown from its original single service into modernized armed forces, composed of army, navy, air force, rocket force and strategic support force.
“In the new historical period, aiming at the CPC’s goal of building a strong military in the new situation, China’s armed forces will unswervingly adhere to the principle of the CPC’s absolute leadership, deepen the reform of national defense and the armed forces in an all-round way, build a modern system of military forces with Chinese characteristics, and constantly enhance its capabilities for addressing various security threats and accomplishing diversified military tasks. China’s armed forces will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, providing a strong guarantee for the Chinese dream of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
Belt and Road Initiative
“The world today is undergoing complex and profound changes, and China is at a critical stage of reform and development,” Senior Colonel Zhang Ge added. “Chinese President Xi has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, which is a road for win-win cooperation and a road toward peace and friendship. China’s destiny has never been so interrelated with that of the world as a whole. China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, pursue an independent foreign policy of peace and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, implement the military strategic guideline of active defense in the new situation, oppose hegemonism and power politics in all forms, and oppose all forms of terrorism. China’s armed forces will remain a staunch force in maintaining world peace and stability.
“In recent years, China’s armed forces has earnestly fulfilled its international responsibilities and obligations, actively participated in UN peacekeeping missions, international disaster relief and humanitarian rescue operations, and has carried out escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and other sea areas as required. On the basis of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and all-win cooperation, China’s armed forces will continue to carry out pragmatic cooperation with its counterparts in various countries of the world, develop military-tomilitary relations that are non-aligned, non-confrontational and not directed against any third party, so as to jointly deal with a diverse range of security threats and challenges.”
Diplomatic relations
“Kuwait is the first Gulf Arabic country establishing diplomatic relations with China,” Senior Colonel Zhang Ge noted. “The traditional friendship between China and Kuwait has emerged stronger over time and has stood the test of changing international and regional climate. In recent years, the bilateral relations have seen a healthy and stable development, with notable achievements of practical cooperation being made. The two sides are now making efforts to integrate the developing strategies between China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Kuwait Vision 2035. Military-to-military relationship is an important part of the bilateral relations, which has also got constantly promoted and deepened over the years. In February 2017 the 24th Chinese Naval Escorting Taskforce ships paid an official and friendly visit to Kuwait, during which the two Navies held a series of professional exchanges. Being China’s Defense Attache in Kuwait, I’m fully confident that with our joint efforts the bilateral military-to-military relations between China and Kuwait will make new and greater progress in the years ahead.”