A videophone conference was held Monday across China to deploy the work of military conscription in 2003, and to demand the local governments and military departments at all levels fulfill the tasks endowed them by the State Council and the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China.

Local governments and military departments were told to do their best to recruit highly qualified soldiers, so as to improve the army's battle effectiveness, promote military reform with Chinese characteristics and realize the army's modernization.

The departments at all levels should consider recruitment this year as a serious political task, standing at the height of national development and army building under the new situation, according to the conference.

The conference also demanded the strengthening of education on national defense and military service law and mobilizing the energy of the young people to dedicate themselves to the service of the motherland by joining the army.

To guarantee the quality of the new soldiers, the conference required the departments to do a good job recruiting college students, and prevent corruption in recruitment.

The conference also demanded that conscription work be institutionalized and standardized according to the law.

(People’s Daily September 9, 2003)