On the evening of July 28, the Chinese Embassy in Latvia held a reception to celebrate the 88th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). The reception was hosted by Senior Colonel Zhang Yuanqiu, Military, Naval and Air Attaché.
H.E. Mr. Yang Guoqiang, Ambassador to China in Latvia, Chief of Staff & Deputy Chief of Defence of Joint HQ of LNAF, MG Juris Zeibarts, Commander of Latvian National Guard, BG Leonids Kalnins, Parliamentary Secretary of MoD, Mr Andrejs Pantelejevs, Latvian MOD and LNAF officials and representatives from the State Police, local press, academia and business, Defense Attaches accredited to Latvia, staffs of the Embassy and the representatives of overseas Chinese community in Latvia together with over 80 guests were present at the reception.
In his remarks, Sr. Col. Zhang briefly looked back on the PLA's 88 years of growth under the firm leadership of the Communist Party of China, defeated Japanese fascist aggression, and briefed the audiences the outstanding contributions the PLA has made in achieving the national independence and people’s liberation, safeguarding national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity as well as advancing China’s economic and social development. Xi Jinping, the chairman of China's Central Military Commission, have required to build up the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) with Promoting the military party's command, winning more battles and excellent work-style, strict &impartial discipline and potent assurance, and also talked about the progress achieved by the PLA in modernization campaign in the new historical era and its active participation in international peace-keeping, escort operation and HADR operations in recent years. Over the past few years, the pragmatic defense cooperation and mutual exchanges between China and Latvia has been reasonably effective, and have made a new breakthrough. Zhang points out, that with the joint efforts of both sides, we will continue to maintain high-level exchanges between the two defense ministries, to expand bilateral defense exchanges and cooperation, such as observing the military exercises and exchange for military college, and strengthen pragmatic communication.
The guests extended their congratulation to the host on the founding anniversary of the PLA and expressed his appreciation for PLA's constructive role in maintaining world peace and regional stability. They wished that Latvia and China further strengthen the friendship and cooperation in various fields and hoped for continuous development of the bilateral relations.
A video on the PLA of today in 2015 was played. Pictures showing the achievements in the modernization process of PLA were displayed at the reception. Books, picture album, audio and video products about the performing diversified missions to PLA were given out.
