"All officers and men must uphold the absolute leadership of the Party over the army, always adhere to the true qualities and work style of the people's army, and strive for a fast development by accelerating the building and reform of the army," Jiang said Friday afternoon when meeting with army delegates to the just-ended 16th CPC National Congress.

Hu Jintao participated in the meeting. Also present at the meeting were Guo Boxiong, Cao Gangchuan, Zhang Wannian and Chi Haotian.

Jiang expressed his warm regards to the army veterans and to all the officers and men of the entire army and armed police.

Jiang said that great achievements have been made in national defense and army building over the past 13 years and that all officers and men have performed fresh exploits in defending and developing the nation.

Strengthening national defense is a strategic task in China's modernization drive and an important guarantee for building a well-off society in an all-round way, Jiang said.

The international situation, Jiang said, is complex and changeable and profound changes are taking place in the military realm in the world, offering both opportunities and challenges to national defense and army building in China.

The Party congress has put forward new requirements for national defense and army building, Jiang said, stressing that allofficers and men should see clearly the situation, bear in mind their mission, and push ahead with the army's modernization.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2002)