During an exclusive interview with China Daily, Senior Colonel Su Zhirong, who is also a research fellow with the Academy of Military Science of the PLA, hailed the remarkable achievements of the army.

Promoting military technologies is the top priority of the military modernization, Su said, emphasizing that the aim is purely to promote self-defence.

In 1999, China restructured its national defence industry and established 10 sectors including the nuclear industry, aviation, shipping and weaponry.

According to Su, the Chinese army has made many breakthroughs in fields such as missile technology, astronautics and information technology.

Around 1,000 award-winning scientific breakthroughs have been introduced to the ground forces, greatly promoting their self-defence capabilities and the accuracy of long-distance strikes.

The navy and air force have also improved their readiness by employing high-tech systems.

Su said the Chinese army would not pose a threat to other countries.

"The Chinese army will never take part in any arms race, nor will it seek hegemony or external expansion,'' Su said.

He said the army has been pursuing a principle of safeguarding sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity and safety.

"The use of military force is only to secure a stable internal and external environment for national economic development, and to safeguard national interests and dignity. All these fall into the category of self-defence," Su said.

He said the country's military budget has been increasing at 6.2 percent annually for last decade and half, even slower than average yearly inflation of 7.3 percent.

He said the PLA has used advanced technologies in its military exercises and has acquired advanced military supplies.

Besides promoting its technology, the PLA is also improving the quality of its soldiers.

To realize this goal, the army is relying on civilian institutions of higher learning to supply officers.

Su said the army has signed contracts with top universities such as Peking University and Tsinghua University. According to the contracts, the army gives financial aid to university students who in turn agree to join the army after graduation.

In 1999 and 2000, more than 2,000 university graduates have entered the army thanks to this financial aid programme.

The PLA is also sending its officers with bachelor's degree to graduate school.

Thirteen years ago, well-known Chinese rocket expert Qian Xuesen said: "In the future, PLA officers at the division level should have at least master's degree.''

Qian's remark appears to be coming true, Su said.

He said in the near future, most officers at the army level will earn doctorates and those at division level will have masters' degrees.

(China Daily 08/01/2001)