China's Army Day parade shows military strength, benefits world peace: experts

Photo taken on July 30, 2017 shows a formation of special operation equipment during a military parade at Zhurihe training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. China on Sunday held a grand military parade to mark the 90th founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army. (Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua)

China's Army Day parade on Sunday demonstrated the strength of the Chinese military, which contributes to safeguarding national security and world peace, international experts have said.

The past decades have witnessed China's rapid growth in a variety of areas. Today, China is closer to the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than any other time in history, said Jean-Marie Bossy of the Society of Chinese-Swiss Culture Exchange, adding that he strongly believes China's progress is "peaceful" and is "beneficial to the world."

China's growing economy and stronger national defense facilitate global peace and stability rather than pose any kind of so-called "threat" to the world, said Zhao Yuan, honorary chairman of the Swiss Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China.

Living in a complicated and changing world, "we need to build a strong people's military more than any other time in history," he added.

"We must deeply recognize the traditional and non-traditional security threats, and consolidate national defense, strengthen military power so as to achieve the China Dream and safeguard world peace," said Li Su, vice chairman of the Swiss Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China.

Italian Secretary General of Defense and National Armament Director Lt. Gen. Carlo Magrassi has expressed his congratulation for the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Magrassi said he admires the rapid progress of China's military equipment and the modernization of military forces during the past years, he added.

Defense Attache of the Chinese Embassy in Italy Senior Colonel Wang Jianliang recalled the significant contributions the Chinese military has made to global peace-keeping, escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia and international humanitarian aid as he attended the reception held at the embassy to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the PLA on July 25.

Attendees including Italian officials highlighted the achievements made by the PLA and affirmed the key functions it has made in upholding world peace and stability.

During the past 90 years since its founding, the PLA has proved to be a strong force to uphold national and global peace with real actions, said Ronnie Lins, director of the China-Brazil Center for Research and Business.

China has gained tremendous scientific and technological progress in recent years, and the positive effects of advanced technology used by the Chinese military are revealing themselves, he said.

China attaches great importance to technological development and military human resources development to forge a stronger army. This shows that the Chinese army has adapted to the conditions of modern warfare and a step further to the goal of military modernization, Lins added.

In Africa, some countries have been haunted by terrorism in recent years, and some suffer from civil wars, leaving their people in extremely dangerous conditions, said Ethiopian expert Costantinos Bt. Costantinos, who serves as an economic advisor to the African Union and the U.N.-Economic Commission for Africa.

In these countries, people could always find Chinese peacekeepers, elites of the PLA, helping African countries combat extremism, safeguard regional peace and stability and protect local people at the risk of their own lives, he said.

Every time a disaster strikes China, the PLA is always the first to reach the scene to help people out without being afraid of sacrifice. The close relationship between the PLA and the Chinese people is a crucial guarantee for the happiness of its people, Costantinos added.

China on Sunday held a grand military parade to mark the 90th birthday of the PLA in the Zhurihe military training base in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Chinese President Xi Jinping watched the military parade and delivered a keynote speech urging further improvement of the PLA's combat effectiveness and modernization of China's national defense.