Chinese President calls for "new chapter" of air force development

2009-11-09 00:47:54 GMT2009-11-09 08:47:54 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L front) meets with heroes of the Chinese Air Force on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of China Air Force in Beijing, China, Nov. 8, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

BEIJING, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Sunday called for a "new chapter" of the development of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force.

Hu met with representatives of senior officers, role models and pilots of the PLA air force.

The PLA air force have made huge progress in its own development over the past six decades, with remarkable contributions to the protection of China's sovereignty, safety, territorial integrity as well as to the socialist modernization of the country, Hu said.

China's national defense and the modernization of its army are facing new situations and new tasks, Hu said.

The air force have also entered a key phase of development, Hu said, urging them to develop systematic capabilities for both offensive and defensive operations.

This year marks the 60th founding anniversary of the PLA air force.

EMAIL | PRINT | RSS

Add Your Comments:

Please read our Terms of Service. Messages that harass, abuse or threaten others; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or advertising content or links may be removed.