Chinese President Jiang Zemin January 12 called for greater progress to secure unity between the People's Liberation Army, the government, and the people.

He issued the call in a special letter to congratulate the opening of a naming ceremony for the country's model "shuangyong" counties and cities.

"Shuangyong" is a word used to convey the concept of "the government and people support the army and assist soldiers' families and the army supports the government and loves the people."

Jiang, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that "shuangyong" has long been a good tradition and a unique political advantage for the Party, the army, and the people.

Unity has played and will continue to play a significant role in promoting the country's development and military building, safeguarding state security and social stability, and overcoming severe natural disasters of all kinds, Jiang said.

We should respond to new situations, continue to do well in "shuangyong" work, and consolidate and develop the current fine unity between the army, the government and the people, said Jiang.

"So long as the army and people are united as one, they can defeat any enemy," he said, adding that China's socialist modernization efforts will bound from victory to ever greater victories.