According to a senior official with the Ministry of National Defense, 1999 was a fruitful year for Chinese people,

Speaking at an evening reception marking the New Year, Luo Bin,director of the Ministry's Foreign Affairs Office said that the Chinese people jubilantly celebrated the 50th anniversary of the People's Republic and the return of Macao last year.

Defense Minister Chi Haotian, who is also vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission and state councilor, attended the reception along with a number of People's Liberation Army (PLA)senior officials as well as various overseas military officers.

Luo said that in 1999 the PLA successfully carried out various reforms including cutting back 500,000 of its armed forces staff and performing successfully the Grand Military Parade for the 50th anniversary celebrations in October last year.

The successful practice of "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong and Macao will give impetus to an early settlement of the Taiwan issue, said Luo. He added that the PLA is determined to make new contributions for the reunification of the motherland.

Luo said that in 2000 the PLA will continue to strive to develop friendship and cooperative relations with its counterpartsacross the world in line with the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

The PLA will continue to maintain world peace and do everythingin its power to improve mutual understanding, friendship, trust and relations with armies around the world. said Luo. (Xinhua)