Chinese President Xi Jinping told the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF), the land army of the Communist Party of China (CPC), that absolute subservience to the party is the key to victory on the battlefield.

Xi said the party's absolute leadership over the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the fundamental guarantee for the army's victory. He called on the PLA to adhere to the CPC's absolute leadership, maintain their nature; uphold their principles as the people's army and be the heir to the Red Army.

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"To build a strong country requires efforts to build a strong army, and only with a strong army can the country's security be guaranteed," said Xi.

Xi is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), which makes him head of the PLA, the CPC's armed forces that are sworn to defend the party first and the Chinese state second.

He urged the PLA to build a solid national defense and strong armed forces commensurate with the country's international status, national security and development interests.

He called for the PLA to foster a new generation of Chinese servicemen who are "soldiers with soul, high caliber, gut and virtue." He urged the PLA to build rock-solid troops with "iron-like belief, conviction, discipline and commitment."

"The Long March is the glory of the people's army, and the honorable people's army must always carry forward the great spirit and fine tradition of the Red Army in the Long March," said Xi.

He also urged the PLA to uphold political integrity, promote reform and rule of law and strengthen combat readiness.

The entire PLA should remain vigilant and be aware of its responsibilities, Xi said.

He pointed out that that the modernization of China's national defense and the PLA must advance to safeguard the country's national sovereignty, security and development interests.

TagsPeople's Liberation Army, People's Liberation Army Ground Force, Xi Jinping, Red Army, CPC Central Committee