Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Wednesday that the combat capabilities of the armed forces should be strengthened through scientific and technological progress, especially through the introduction of information technologies.

At a meeting to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the Great Hall of the People, Hu said, "Reform and innovation provide the engine of growth for the armed forces, and we must promote innovation in military theories, technologies, organization and management. Modernization of weapons and equipment should be accelerated and personnel training enhanced."

"To continue to implement the strategy of strengthening the military through science and technology," Hu said, "we will take mechanization as the foundation and the application of information technologies as the driving force and ensure that our armed forces are capable of winning warfare in the information age."

Hu said the PLA have to join the worldwide trend of revolution in military affairs.

"It is an inevitable choice for us in enhancing the armed forces' capabilities to respond to multiple security threats, complete diversified military tasks and effectively fulfill PLA's historical mission," he said.

"It is the only way for us to gradually narrow the gap in military technologies and achieve modernization of our armed forces," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2007)