10. To strengthen the army and increase our defence capabilities so as to guarantee the smooth progress of the reform, the opening up and economic development.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army is the strong shield of the people's democratic dictatorship, a great wall of steel protecting the socialist motherland and an important force for building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Now and for a long time to come, our drive for socialist modernization will be conducted in a complex and changing international environment. It is essential always to uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the army. In accordance with Comrade Deng Xiaoping's concept of army-building in the new period, we must create the best armed forces that our conditions permit, turning the PLA into a strong, modernized, revolutionary regular army and constantly increasing our defence capabilities, so as to provide powerful protection for the reform, the opening up and economic development. We have already cut the size of the army by one million men. From now on, it must work hard to meet the requirements of modern warfare, pay attention to quality and enhance its overall combat effectiveness. Thus it will be ready to perform even better the sacred mission of defending China's interests, its sovereignty over its territory, territorial waters and air space, and its maritime rights and of safeguarding the unity and security of the motherland. At the same time, the army must consciously subordinate itself to the overall interests of national economic development, actively support and participate in the reform, the opening up and the modernization drive and make its contributions to China's development and prosperity.

The army must strengthen and reform itself, giving education and training strategic importance and improving the overall combat effectiveness of officers and men. All army units must be qualified politically and competent militarily. They must have a fine style of work, maintain strict discipline and be assured of adequate logistical support. To gradually improve weapons and equipment we must recognize the importance of scientific and technological research for national defence and that of the defence industry.

As always, Party organizations, governments at all levels and all the Chinese people should be concerned with strengthening national defence and should support the army in its tasks. We must educate the people about the importance of national defence. The army should never abandon the work it does to support the government and show its concern for the people, and the government should never abandon its support for the army and its preferential treatment of families of revolutionary armymen and martyrs. This will improve the excellent situation in which both the army and the government on the one hand and the army and the people on the other are united and support each other. We must make a success of the work with regard to the militia and reservists, constantly building up the reserves for national defence.

The Chinese People's Armed Police is an important force for protecting the drive for socialist modernization. We must continue to strengthen that force, together with the public security and state security departments, so they can be more effective in maintaining national security and social stability.

Comrades,

The reform, the opening to the outside world and the modernization drive are great undertakings of the people. To accomplish the arduous tasks of the 1990s, we must rely wholeheartedly on the working class and on the rest of the vast labouring people, giving full play to their enthusiasm and creativity. So long as the Chinese people of all nationalities remain closely united and work hard for the prosperity of the country and for socialist modernization, our cause will surely triumph.