Chinese president wants PLA Navy to enhance capability

New Delhi, Apr 25 (ANI): Chinese President Hu Jintao has said that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy should comprehensively push forward its modernization to constantly enhance its capability to carry out its missions in the new century and new phase.

Hu, who is also the chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when meeting with veteran officers and model soldiers of the PLA Navy on Friday night, a day after the 60th anniversary of the founding of the PLA naval force.

The Chinese President first paid respects to the veteran officers and model soldiers for their contributions to the development of the navy and extended regards to all members of the navy, Xinhua reported.

Through six decades of development, a relatively modern naval force consisting of combined arms had taken shape thanks to the leadership of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, the support of the people, and unremitting efforts by naval officers and soldiers, Hu said.

He said the navy had played an important role in protecting China's sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity, promoting the reform and opening up drive and socialist modernization, and safeguarding world peace and development.

The president expressed hope that the navy would achieve further development.

In a meeting with heads of 29 foreign navy delegations gathered for the PLA Navy's anniversary celebration, Hu pledged that China's armed forces would never be a threat to other nations.

China would always be an important force in safeguarding world peace and development, he said.

"For now and in the future, China would never seek hegemony, nor would it turn to military expansion or arms races with other nations," he said. (ANI)