Chinese President Xi calls to break new ground in weaponry
According to Yang Sheng and Leng Shumei in Global Times, Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged efforts to break new ground in the development of the country's military weaponry and equipment, and contribute to the realization of the goals set for the centennial of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the Xinhua News Agency reported on Octoberv26. Xi, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks at a military conference on weaponry and equipment-related work, which was held in Beijing on October 25 and 26.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Chinese amphibious IFVs attached to a brigade under PLA 72nd Group Army drive into the waters, May 21, 2021 (Picture source: eng.chinamil.com.cn/Xie Quanxin)
Xi Jinping called for efforts to accelerate the implementation of tasks for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) and advance the building of a modernized management system for weaponry and equipment.
CMC Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia also attended the conference. Speaking at the event, Zhang stressed efforts to create strong synergy in weaponry and equipment development, focus on the needs of national security, pay close attention to practical military preparedness, boost sci-tech self-reliance and self-improvement, aim for the world's top class, and speed up the modernization of weaponry and equipment.
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the core of Xi's speech coincides with China's targets to realize informatization, mechanization and "intelligentization" ahead of the 100th anniversary in 2027 of the PLA's founding and basically complete the modernization of China's national defense and armed forces by 2035. Facing the current intense security situation, China has to build a strong military to get well prepared for possible future wars, Song noted. "So the PLA needs to aim for becoming a world-class military force, the weaponry that China develops should at least empower its military with the strength to defeat the world's most powerful and most advanced military force in the region."
