Jiang Zemin, former chairman o f the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, delivers an important speech at an enlarged meeting of the CPC Central Military Commission (CMC) held in Beijing Sept. 20, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Jianmin)

Hu Jintao, chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, delivers an important speech at an enlarged meeting of the CPC Central Military Commission (CMC) held in Beijing Sept. 20, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Jianmin)

Senior members of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China take a group photo in Beijing Sept.20, 2004. Former chairman of the CMC Jiang Zemin, and new Party military chief Hu Jintao both presented themselves. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Jianmin)

Representatives who presented themselves at the enlarged meeting of the CPC Central Military Commission(CMC)take a group photo in Beijing Sept.20, 2004. Former chairman of the CMC Jiang Zemin, and new Party military chief Hu Jintao both attended the meeting and delivered important speeches. (Xinhua Photo/Wang Jianmin)

Chinese President Hu Jintao(L)shakes hands with Jiang Zemin(R) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Sept.19, 2004. Hu succeeded Jiang Zemin as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the Fourth Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee, which concluded here today.(Xinhua Photo/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Hu Jintao delivers a speech at the Fourth Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee in Beijing Sept.19, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/Li Xueren)

Jiang Zemin(2nd,R) and Chinese President Hu Jintao(1st, R)meet with representatives who attend the Fourth Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee in Beijing Sept.19, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/Li Xueren)

Nine senior members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC present at the Fourth Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee in Beijing, Sept. 19, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/Lan Hongguang)

Jiang Zemin (R5) and nine senior members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Commitee pose for photos after the Fourth Plenum of the 16th CPC Central Committee in Beijing, Sept. 19, 2004. (Xinhua Photo/Ju Peng)

　　Jiang urges PLA to follow Party orders, safeguard territorial integrity

　　BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Jiang Zemin, former chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, expressed his hope here Monday that Chinese military forces would always follow the Party's orders and well perform its duty of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

　　Jiang Zemin handed over his post as the military chief of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to Hu Jintao Sunday,

　　"I'm very glad to come here to join you today," said Jiang, 78,while he and Hu attended together an enlarged meeting of the CPC Central Military Commission (CMC) held in Beijing on Monday morning. "As a veteran communist, I would like to express some hope on all of you here."

　　"Firstly, I hope the military will always resolutely follow theParty's instructions and guidance, obey the orders from the Party and accept the Party's absolute leadership," said Jiang.

　　"Secondly, I hope the military will always preserve the political nature of the Red Army, ... to carry on our army's glorious tradition and fine style of work one generation after another," Jiang added.

　　He went on to express the hope that the Chinese military would try hard to "stand in the front of the global tide of military development", and that the military would constantly "consolidate and develop a high level of (internal) solidarity and unity".

　　"Fifthly, I hope that military will earnestly fulfill its sacred mission of safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Jiang. "The realization of the reunification of the motherland is a major issue to which (the late) Chairman Mao (Zedong) and Comrade (Deng) Xiaoping had always paid great attention."

　　On the resolution of the Taiwan issue, Jiang said, "We shall try our best with utmost sincerity to realize the peaceful reunification, but we shall by no means make the commitment to forsake the use of force. This is a major political principle."

　　Jiang pointed out that the military must step up its preparations for the military struggle. "The better we are prepared for the military struggle, the more likely we are to gaina peaceful reunification in the future," he said.

　　He called on "all comrades of the military" to "bravely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity with resolution and faith", and to "make still greater contribution to the realization of the complete reunification of the motherland".

　　The 16th CPC Central Committee, at its Fourth Plenum which concluded here Sunday, accepted Jiang's resignation and approved Hu, 61, to take over as the new Party military chief.

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