Extracts. Jiang Urges PLA to Accelerate Defense Modernization President Jiang Urges PLA to Accelerate Defense Modernization ------------------------------------------------------------------------Chin ese President Jiang Zemin urged the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to enhance defense combat effectiveness under high-tech conditions, subject itself to the absolute leadership of the Party and speed up military modernization. He made the remarks Friday at a panel discussion of PLA deputies to the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC), in session here since Monday. Jiang praised the PLA for its achievements in military modernization over the past five years and its excellent performance in major military exercises, flood relief, the military parade marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the assumption of defense responsibilities in Hong Kong and Macao. He called on the PLA to make new contributions to China's modernization during the 10th five-year plan period from 2001 to 2005. Jiang Urges PLA to Accelerate Defense Modernization ------------------------------------------------------------------------The PLA must have a clear understanding of its historic mission in safeguarding national security, unity and social stability, he said. He urged the PLA to enhance its defense combat effectiveness with a high sense of political responsibility and a high sense of its historic mission. "The PLA should closely monitor changing situations, get well prepared for various military tasks and help local authorities maintain social stability," he said. Jiang stressed the importance of strengthening political education in the PLA to ensure the absolute leadership of the Communist Party over the armed forces. To accelerate the pace of military modernization, Jiang said the PLA must give priority to developing defense technologies. " The enhancement of the PLA's combat effectiveness should rely mainly on progresses in science and technology," he said. Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao was present at the group discussion. **** Prolonged Strategic Thinking with Development as Theme: Commentary Taking development as the theme, which is the guideline put forward by the Fifth Plenary Session of the 15th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) for the formulation of the 10th Five-year Plan, has become the common view held by NPC deputies and CPPCC members attending the "two sessions" (the Fourth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress and the Fourth Session of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), the common will of the whole Party and people of all nationalities of the country, and the strategic thinking which we must uphold for a long time to come. "Development is an absolute principle", which is a thesis of historical materialism, contains an extremely profound thinking. Without development, the country would not become strong, the people would not get rich, the nation would not be rejuvenated, the superiority of the socialist system would not be brought into full play, and it would be difficult for China to make still greater contribution to the cause of human progress. That is what is meant by "development being an absolute principle". Development naturally refers to all-round development centered on economic growth. It includes both material advancement as well as cultural and ethical progress. Development should be manifested in the constant enhancement of economic strength, national defense power and cohesion of the nation. Development aims to make the motherland prosperous and strong and the people enjoy common affluence. Development requires that we should be good at seizing opportunities and meeting challenges. Grasping the opportunity for development is something concrete, not an empty slogan. We should analyze and study everyone of the development opportunities facing us. The rapid pace of world scientific and technological progress, economic restructuring being conducted in various countries, the transfer of international industries, the quickened circulation of technical funds, etc.-all these provide us with opportunities for development. Whether or not we can fully understand and timely grasp these chances, whether this grasp is tight and effective, whether the methods and measures used are right and workable, is the key determining whether or not development opportunities can be grasped. Meeting challenges is also something concrete. With phenomenal achievements gained in reform and construction, some cadres may possibly have the sentiment of staying where they are, and showing no desire to make progress; with the development of the market economy, some cadres may possibly become corrupt and degenerate for being lured by increasing materials; the practice of opening to the outside world makes it possible to import advanced things and unavoidably bring in negative and corrupt things, hostile forces of the West will inevitably seize the opportunity to step up their infiltration into China; in the process of economic restructuring, due to unsound and imperfect law, system, management and procedures, lax and chaotic phenomena may occur in economic and social order. The rapid development of world science and technology makes it possible to widen the gap between China and the advanced world level; the further opening to the outside world and the rapid development of the international financial market will confront us with fiercer international competition and will thus make our task to safeguard economic security more arduous; China's impending entry into the WTO is, in one aspect, favorable to us, it may also bring impact on some of our industrial fields; with new trade protectionism raising its head in the world, the struggle between dumping and anti-dumping, sanction and anti-sanction facing us may possibly be aggravated; the so-called hi-tech migratory policies practiced by Western and some newly emerging market-oriented countries have confronted us with the furious war of contention for talents, etc. These challenges and risks must be solved piecemeal as we uphold development as the main theme. We have possessed the advantageous conditions for speeding up development. Through the development over the past half century, particularly over more than two decades of reform and opening up, China's overall national strength has noticeably strengthened, social productive forces have increased dramatically, an enormous material and technical foundation has thus been formed. . China has a huge population and great market potential. Along with the perfection of the socialist market economic structure, the role played by the market mechanism in promoting economic development will be continually enhanced. People of all nationalities of the county have, on the basis of common ideals and common interests, constantly reinforced their unity. A passel of cadres and talents with new knowledge and pioneering spirit have kept coming to the fore. We have accumulated a wealth of new experiences whereby we can control the whole situation regarding economic and social development under complicated circumstances. These are favorable conditions for us to speed up development. Deng Xiaoping Theory has gone ever deeper into people's harts. The whole Party has constantly enhanced its self-consciousness in implementing the important idea contained in the "three representatives", the staunch leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/jzm/jzmhome.htm> at the core is the fundamental guarantee for us to quicken development. Although there will be difficulties and risks in our way forward, the prospect of development is infinitely broad and bright. We should advance with full confidence. **** Buddhist Leader Hails Government Ban on Falun Gong A Chinese Buddhist leader has spoken highly of the government ban on Falun Gong according to law, saying that in the eyes of Buddhists, this is a just action that is most gratifying to the people. Shi Shenhui, a vice chairman of the Buddhist Association of China, made this remark Friday at the current session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee. On behalf of the religious circle, Shi called for wiping out cults and supporting lawful religions in the country. In his speech, the Buddhist leader accused Li Hongzhi, the cult leader, of belittling and slandering all religions. "Li's evil ideas have hurt the feelings of the more than 100 million religious believers in China," he said. Religious groups can never tolerate a notorious and evil man like Li Hongzhi and are launching staunch battles against him, though all the regions uphold benevolence, he said. Li has misguided his followers by stealing ideas, such as Falun, or Buddhist Wheel, from Buddhism, but the deeds of Falun Gong have nothing to do with Buddhism. The Buddhist leader expressed his hope that people could learn to tell the difference between cults and religions. If a "social cancer" like Falun Gong were not eliminated, the country could not achieve stability, the people could not enjoy a happy life, and religious people could not have their freedom of belief guaranteed, he stressed. **** DPRK, Greece Establish Diplomatic Relations The Democratic People's Republic of Korea <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/dprk.html> (DPRK <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/DPRK.html> ) and Greece <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/greece.html> have established diplomatic relations, a joint communique released Friday said. Representatives from the foreign ministries of the two countries signed the protocol on the establishment of diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level in Athens, capital of Greece, on March 8, the communique said. The two sides emphasized the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries was based on the principles of the charter of the United Nations, international laws, the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations and the Vienna convention of consular relations, the communique said. Both sides expressed "the conviction that the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and the Hellenic Republic (Greece) would conform to the interests of both countries and contribute to the strengthening of the peace and security of the world," it said. Greece is the 13th European Union (EU) country to normalize relations with the DPRK. **** Cuba Vows to Counter US over Human Rights in Geneva Cuba has vowed to launch a political and diplomatic counterattack against the United States <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/usa.html> in April over human rights in the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva. "In Geneva, we'll assert our concepts and viewpoints regarding the human rights situation," said Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque in a statement released Thursday. While admitting that the voting in Geneva will be hard, Perez said: "We have our morals, truth and a spirit that means to wage a battle in defense of Cuba's dignity." In the year 2000, the U.N. Human Rights Commission approved a resolution condemning Cuba <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/data/cuba.html> over its human rights record. This year, Cuba will present several initiatives regarding the human rights issue, one of which is the right to nutrition, which the United States has been opposing on several occasions, said the statement. Perez, who returned Wednesday evening from a two-week five- nation Asian tour, stressed that human rights have become a political issue and frequently been used as a pretext for developed countries, especially the United States, to interfere in other countries' internal affairs. **** NPC Deputies Meet in Third Plenum The ongoing Fourth Session of the National People's Congress (NPC) held its third plenary meeting Friday to hear a report on the work of the NPC Standing Committee by Chairman Li Peng <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/npcchair.html> and an explanation of the draft of the amendments to the Law on Sino-Foreign Joint Venture by Gu Angran, chairman of the Commission of Legislative Affairs of the NPC Standing Committee. The meeting also adopted the methods of voting for the current NPC session. Communist Party of China (CPC) and state leaders Jiang Zemin <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/jzm/jzmhome.htm> , Zhu Rongji <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/Zhurongji.htm> , Li Ruihuan <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/cpcdir/hprofile.html> , Hu Jintao <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/vpresident.html> , Wei Jianxing <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/cpcdir/wprofile.html> and Li Lanqing <http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/leaders/Lilanqing.htm> were present at the plenum chaired by Jiang Chunyun. NPC Chairman Li Peng said that the NPC Standing Committee adopted 14 laws, a decision on legal matters, and a judicial interpretation over the past year. The top legislative body is still studying 12 draft laws, Li said. The NPC and its standing committee have since reform and opening up promulgated over 300 laws or decisions on legal matters; the State Council issued more than 800 administrative decrees; local people's congresses made over 8,000 local laws and regulations. All these go to form an initially complete legal system with Chinese characteristics. Li stressed the importance of strengthening oversight, saying that the NPC standing committee will make anti-corruption and advocacy for clean government an organic part of relevant laws. Whether or not a law is favorable to the fight against corruption and the building of clean government should be an important part of argumentation in making laws. In the new year, the NPC Chairman said, the NPC Standing Committee will organize checks on the enforcement of laws and special hearings on major problems concerning social and economic development. In his report on revising the Sino-Foreign Joint Venture Law, Gu said the move was taken to keep up with the changing situation and meet the requirements for opening up and for the accession to the WTO. The amendments including the scrapping of such restrictive clauses as those requiring joint ventures to report their production plans to designated authorities and give priority to Chinese raw and other materials in their procurement. Today's session adopted the secret ballot rules for co-opting four members to the NPC Standing Committee. Present at today's plenary meeting were 2,750 NPC deputies. Foreign diplomatic envoys and other diplomats in China were invited to the meeting as observers. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. 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