The leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing has urged the army unit charged with garrisoning the capital to improve its rapid reaction ability.

Liu Qi, secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC, said at a meeting of the Beijing Garrison Command that the garrison must strengthen discipline and obey the leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission.

The garrison should maintain a strict training regime to remain combat ready, and rapid reaction ability should be improved to ensure the armed forces could operate in any conditions, said Liu, who is also the secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Garrison Command.

Liu praised the army's success in protecting the safety and stability of the capital, and encouraged officers and enlisted ranks to strengthen anti-terrorism training and participate in the 2008 Olympic Games security operations.

He also called on the army to prepare for the 17th National Congress of CPC in the second half of this year.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2007)