Senior official stresses military-civilian unity

Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xu Qiliang on Friday called for enhanced efforts to promote unity among the army, the government and the people.

Xu, who is also a Political Bureau member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, issued the call at a high-profile symposium held to mark a movement initiated by late Chinese leader Mao Zedong to boost military-government and military-civilian solidarity 70 years ago.

"Rock-solid military-government and military-civilian unity has proven to be a tool for us to overcome difficulties and march forward from one victory to another," Xu said.

He asked CPC organizations and local governments to make good use of the resources and advantages provided by the armed forces to support local economic and social development, as well as make efforts to help the military modernize itself.

Relevant parties at all levels should strengthen guidance and take effective measures to enhance ties among the military, the government and the people, he said.

The move will provide a solid political guarantee for China's goals of building a moderately prosperous society and a modernized national defense and military, he said.

Xu said the movement, which initiated in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia border region 70 years ago, greatly contributed to the country's victory in the war of Japanese aggression against China and later to its construction and reform.

The movement calls for the army to support the government and cherish the people and for the government to support the army and give preferential treatment to the families of servicemen.

Zhang Gaoli, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also attended Friday's symposium.