China has published the first handbook for students of national defense, to popularize the country's national defense policies and inspire prospective students.

The ceremony to mark the book's publication was held at Tsinghua University in Beijing on Tuesday.

The country has issued more than 20 sets of policies and administrative rules since it decided to cultivate and improve the rank of military officers after the founding of new China in 1949.

The number of universities and colleges that provide classes for personnel to the army has reached 116, with 65,000 graduates and 48,000 students at school. These institutions provided about 10,000 graduates of national defense last year.

Apart from crucial knowledge, the handbook also seeks to answer the major questions that university students ask.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2008)