Speech at the Meeting Celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Liberation Army

On August 1, 2017, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the meeting celebrating the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

People's Publishing House published a single edition of this speech in the same year.

In his speech, Xi Jinping reviewed the glorious journey of the People's Army under the leadership of the CPC, historical importance for the CPC, for China’s revolution, and indeed for the Chinese nation, systematically summarized the historical experience of the construction of the people's army, and emphasized the brilliant history of the people's army, which is molded by the blood life and is always worth remembering. The experiences of the people’s army were gleaned through arduous inquiry, and thus we must forever carry them forward. The historical development of the People's Army is driven by loyalty and always encourages us to move forward.

Xi Jinping pointed out that since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, with a view to realize the “Two Centenary Goals” as well as the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, we proposed building a people’s army that follows the command of the CPC, is victorious in battle and shows exemplary conduct — that is to say the CPC’s goal of building strong armed forces under new conditions — adhere to the principle of directing the army strictly and in accordance with the law without exception, promote troop training and battle readiness, continually improving the quality and efficacy of the people’s army. Through five years’ of efforts, the people’s army has remolded its political environment, organizational form, systemic strength, and its manner of conduct. Once remolded, the army sets out again, taking steadfast strides along the path of a strong military with Chinese characteristics.

He stressed that for the Chinese people to realize national rejuvenation and happiness in their lives, we must expedite the development of the people’s army into a world-class military. We must stay true to the cause and continue ever onward, resolutely keep to the path of a strong military with Chinese characteristics, and continually move ahead with the task of strengthening the military.

Six requirements are put forward for advancing the strong military under the new situation which are as follows:

Firstly, we must not waver from the principle of the absolute leadership of the Party over the military, and ensure that the people’s army will always follow the Party, entire army must enhance its awareness of political integrity, entire army must enhance its awareness of political integrity, the bigger picture, the CPC Central Committee as the core of the Chinese leadership, and the need to act consistently with the Central Committee’s policy, resolutely safeguard the authority of the Party Central Committee, and resolutely follows the commands of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission.

Secondly, we must uphold and develop the Party’s theories of military command to continuously open new frontiers in improving Marxist military theory and China’s military practice. The entire army must earnestly implement the Party’s theories of military command and persist in using the Party’s thought on strengthening the army in the new era, in this way, Marxist military theory will radiate rays of truth ever more resplendent through the mighty practices of a strong army.

Thirdly, we must at all times focus on battle readiness, so as to forge a powerful army that comes when it is called, is ready for battle when it comes, and is victorious in battle, so as to guarantee that, when the time comes that the Party or the people are in need, it will be ready, it will take action, and it will win, the people’s army will firmly uphold CPC leadership and our country’s socialist system, safeguard our national sovereignty, security and development interests, and uphold regional and world peace.

Fourthly, we must adhere to the principles of building the armed forces through politics, reforming and strengthening the armed forces, invigorating the armed forces through science and technology, and running the armed forces according to law, comprehensively improve the level of modernization of national defense and the armed forces, give full play to the role of the lifeline of political work, thoroughly solve the institutional obstacles, structural contradictions and policy problems that restrict the construction of national defense and the armed forces, and continually improve the contributions that advanced technology and innovation make to developing the people’s army, and quickly build a distinctly Chinese military system which is governed by the rule of law, so as to achieve fundamental transformation in the way the military is governed.

Fifthly, we must push for further military-civilian integration to build a national strategic system and capability that integrates the military and civilian sectors, and accelerate to form a multi-factor, multi-domain, and highly-effective developmental layout for the deep integration of the military and civilian sectors.

Sixthly, we must remain committed to the fundamental principle of wholeheartedly serving the people, forever being an army that has the trust, support, and love of the people, and keep in mind its sacred duty to bear arms and fight for the people, and to ensure that the people can live and work in peace, carry forward the fine tradition of staying in close touch with the people, and always being a defender of the rights and interests of the people.

He pointed out that China will always, as ever before, be a promoter of world peace, contributor to global development, and upholder of the international order, and hence the Chinese army will always be a staunch force in keeping world peace.

The Chinese army will always, as always, open up international military exchanges and cooperation, respond multilaterally to global security challenges, and actively perform the duties and responsibilities in accordance with China’s international status, so as to positively contribute its strength towards building a community of shared future for humanity.

This speech has provided important guiding thoughts for building the PLA in the new era, which constitutes a an important component part of Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New era.