He made the pledge while addressing a reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, held on the eve of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army.

The reception was attended by more than 1,700 military leaders, government officials, veterans and military attaches of foreign embassies. Chinese leaders present included President Jiang Zemin, Premier Zhu Rongji, Vice-President Hu Jintao, Vice-Premier Li Lanqing, National People's Congress Chairman Li Peng, and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Chairman Li Ruihuan

Chi told the reception: "We must pay close attention to quality and build a leaner yet more effective force with Chinese characteristics.

"We should step up military training with high-tech weapons and equipment and enhance the troops' combat readiness under high-tech conditions.''

Chi also called for further research into and development of weapons and equipment and improved logistical support to lay a solid material and technological foundation for operational readiness.

"We should work hard to develop more qualified, high-caliber military professionals,'' said Chi. He added that the system of national defense mobilization should be improved and the general population should be educated more about defense matters.

Chi said that it is the common aspiration of Chinese people around the world to resolve the Taiwan question and achieve the complete reunification of the motherland.

"We will try our utmost to achieve peaceful reunification but we will not renounce the use of force,'' said Chi.

He stressed that any attempt to separate Taiwan from the country is doomed to failure.

"We have the determination and capability to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity,'' he added.

The minister said that China will continue to follow the basic principles of "peaceful reunification'' and "one country, two systems'' as well as the eight-point proposal put forward by President Jiang Zemin on the development of cross-Straits relations at the current stage and on achieving progress towards peaceful reunification.

The minister said that the Chinese people and their army love peace and they are a staunch force working for world peace. He added that China has always pursued an independent foreign policy for peace and is ready to step up exchanges and friendly cooperation with other peoples and their armed forces on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.

(China Daily August 1, 2002)