Ministry of National Defense Hosts ReceptionThe Chinese people and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) scored remarkable achievements in 2000, a senior official with the Ministry of National Defense said Friday, January 12.At an evening reception marking the New Year, Director of the Ministry's Foreign Affairs Office Zhan Maohai said that China has achieved the goals set in the ninth five-year plan and its military building has also made much progress. Defense Minister Chi Haotian, who is also a vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission and state councilor, attended the reception along with a number of senior PLA officers, and defense attaches from various countries. Zhan said that in 2001 the PLA will continue to strive to develop friendship and cooperative relations with its counterparts throughout the world. The PLA will continue to contribute to maintaining world peace and promoting common development, and will engage in unremitting efforts to enhance mutual understanding, friendship, trust and cooperative ties with armies across the globe, said Zhan. |
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