Jiang Zemin Visits Soldiers in Inner Mongolia 　　President Jiang Zemin has called on the Chinese army to strengthen ideological and political development, and to initiate a military training program based on science and technology. 　　Jiang, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, issued the call during his recent fact-finding tour in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region. 　　The leader visited an infantry brigade and a water supply engineering regiment stationed in the region. Jiang extended best wishes to all branches of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), armed police units, militia reserve forces and related military personnel. 　　Jiang praised the army's victorious battle against last summer's devastating floods and the military's withdrawal from business activities. He said that related efforts will have a far-reaching influence on military modernization. 　　Jiang previously visited PLA units stationed in the region in 1990 and during the recent visit expressed great pleasure at seeing major improvements of local military modernization. He said that officers and soldiers stationed in the region have overcome adverse natural conditions and contributed greatly to the region's economic prosperity. 　　He called on the PLA to unswervingly adhere to the strategy of improving the army by means of science and technology. He pointed to related activities as the key to providing better training and strengthening combat readiness. 　　Jiang showed great concern with the lodging, and recreational and educational facilities available for soldiers. The Chinese president presented 1,000 books and over 3,000 VCDs to local military units and encouraged soldiers to concentrate on modern science and technology. 　　Jiang urged the water supply engineering regiment to extend greater efforts to help develop the local economy. He told members of the military to respect local Party committees and governments and implement the Party's policies on religion. HomeNews 1999-02-04 Page1 Full Story in Chinese