More effort must be made to boost the development of military institutes during the historic reform of China's military forces, Jiang Zemin, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), said Monday in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province.

Jiang was speaking at a celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the National Defense Science and Technology University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

He called on military colleges to adhere to Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thoughts of "Three Represents".

High-quality military staff armed with latest military technologies and technological innovation was of great importance to the modernization of the army and national defense, Jiang said.

Military colleges must shoulder the responsibility of nurturing talent and fully understand developments in science and technology as well as military education, he said.

During the past 50 years, the university has made major scientific and technological innovations, including the landmark research in the "Galaxy" supercomputer system for military applications.

Reforms and innovations were needed in the military education system so as to develop a military force that could win in the era of information technology, Jiang said.

It was also necessary to have good faculty members with excellent political qualities, professional skills and innovation abilities, Jiang added.

The National Defense Science and Technology University, founded in 1953, is a leading military university in China with 12,390 students. It has 80 master degree majors, 40 doctorate degree majors and nine post-doctorate positions.

(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2003)