By Zhang Mimi and Mei Changwei

BEIJING, March 7 -- Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the delegation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force (PAP) to the First Session of the 14th National People's Congress, received an interview on March 6.

During the interview, a reporter mentioned that Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the goal of building a strong military at the plenary meeting of the PLA and PAP delegation to the First Session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) in March of 2013. As for now, what historic achievements have been made in national defense and military development in the new era under the guidance of the goal, he asked.

In response, Tan stated that the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has focused on the realization of the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation since the 18th National Congress of the Party, and clearly set forth the Party's goal of building a strong military in the new era, leading the people's armed forces to write a new chapter of the era on the road to build a strong military with Chinese characteristics, with historic achievements and changes made in the cause of building a strong military.

We have firmly adhered to the Party's absolute leadership over the people's armed forces, and unswervingly promoted political education and training. As a result, the political ecology of China's armed forces has fundamentally improved with a positive atmosphere flourishing.

We have boosted military training and war preparedness across the board, firmly and flexibly carried out military struggles, and proactively opened up a new pattern. We have deepened the reform of national defense and the armed forces with great strides, resulting in the armed forces in a new system, a new structure, a new pattern and a new look, and adding up to a revolutionary reshaping on all fronts.

We have innovatively strengthened the modernization of national defense and the armed forces to promote the high-quality development of the armed forces, improving military's modernization level and actual combat capability to a new height. It is under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping and under the guidance of President Xi Jinping thought on strengthening the military for the new era that the people's armed forces have kept roots and soul, walked on the path of rapid development, and won the initiative to transform into world-class forces.

Tan also said that the 20th CPC National Congress has made strategic arrangements for national defense and military building based on overall situation of building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. The congress stressed the need to complete the missions for the Chinese military by the PLA's centenary in 2027. The whole military has firmly implemented the decision and deployment made by President Xi Jinping and the Central Military Commission (CMC), while focusing on achieving the goals set for the centenary of the PLA with high spirits and unity, unswervingly obeying the Party's command, building up the capacity to fight and win, and striving to open new ground for national defense and military modernization with practical actions.