Phoenix TV:

The PLA has always emphasized the Party's absolute leadership over the people's armed forces, so how will the armed forces reflect this in the events marking the Party's centenary? In addition, what's the special significance for the military to celebrate the centenary of the Party? Thank you.

Li Jun:

I am glad to answer this question with which you are concerned. As we all know, since its founding, the PLA has been closely linked with the Party and has always acted and fought under the absolute leadership of the Party. The celebrations of the military will make upholding the Party's absolute leadership over the people's armed forces the fundamental focus and the most distinctive feature, and work to build the loyal conviction that the people's armed forces should always follow and obey the instructions of the Party. On the momentous occasion of the centenary of the Party, the armed forces will hold celebrations while coordinating military training, war preparedness and reform and development. I would like to sum up the special significance for the military to celebrate the Party's centenary with the following three "betters":

The first "better" is to better forge the political soul of obeying the Party's commands. Obeying the Party's commands is deeply integrated into the DNA and blood of the people's armed forces. The celebrations of the armed forces will focus on drawing political nourishment from the Party's struggle and great achievements over the century, especially the historic achievements and changes in the new era. We will continue to educate the armed forces with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the military. We will guide officers and soldiers to strengthen their consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment with the central Party leadership; stay confident in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and uphold the Party Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership. We will implement the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the chair of the CMC, and obey the commands of the CPC Central Committee, the CMC, and Chairman Xi in all actions.

The second "better" is to better gather the willpower to advance military training and war preparedness. The century-long journey of the Party embodies great revolutionary spirit and unique ways of winning. The officers and soldiers of the armed forces will have a profound understanding of our Party's valuable experience in leading China's revolution, construction, and reform; and understand and grasp the Party's art of planning for and commanding in military struggles. We will readily translate intense enthusiasm into actions to strengthen the armed forces, transform the Party's political and organizational strengths into winning strengths, and get prepared for various complex and difficult situations at any time. We will also build up our fighting spirit while not being intimidated by strong opponents, and resolutely accomplish the missions and tasks assigned by the Party and the people in the new era.

The third "better" is to better preserve the original character and conduct of the people's armed forces. The Party has gone through many vicissitudes without changing its original aspiration, and experienced hardships without altering its character. An important "secret" for this is that the Party has cultivated and upheld a set of proud traditions and fine conduct. The armed forces of all levels have taken it as a must-do task to review the Party's history, original aspiration, and purpose, and we have promoted the program for passing on the traditions of revolution. The efforts will guide the officers and soldiers of the armed forces to be faithful heirs of the Party's proud traditions and fine conduct, always preserve the character of the Red Army veterans, and set a good example of the people's armed forces and the revolutionary officers and soldiers in the new era. Thank you.