A delegation of 84 defense attachés from 57 countries toured a
research and development center and a trial manufacturing and
testing site of the Chinese People's Liberation Army's
Quartermaster Equipment Institute in Beijing on Thursday.
It was the first time the institute, which is affiliated with
the General Logistics Department, was opened for such a visit.
"This is part of a program we have initiated for the defense
attachés to learn more about Chinese military research," said Zhou
Bo of the Defense Ministry's Foreign Affairs Office.
Founded in 1960, the institute conducts research, development
and engineering of the bedding, individual equipment, field cooking
equipment and combat rations of the military.
The delegation was shown an array of new support equipment,
including self-heating food packages, thermal materials and
improved uniforms.
Zhou Guotai, president of the institute, briefed the visitors
about the institute and answered their questions.
He said that this institute had developed some of the emergency
relief materials that China sent to tsunami-ravaged countries early
this year.
"It's a symbol of China's opening and growing confidence to show
this facility to other countries," said JKS Virk, India's deputy
defense attaché in China.
Lajos Racz, a Hungarian defense attaché and dean of the Beijing
Military Attaché Corps, said the opening of the institute would
"help promote foreign officers' understanding and trust of the
Chinese army and enhance friendships."
In the past few years, foreign defense attachés have been
organized to visit Chinese military academies and research
institutes and to observe military exercises
(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2005)