The General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has issued a circular on the launching of an educational campaign entitled "Affirm Belief on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Efficiently Carry out the Historic Mission of the Army."

The educational campaign is aimed to implement the important instructions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Central Military Commission (CMC), and Hu Jintao, state president, Party general secretary, and chairman of the CMC, according to the document.

It is fundamental for Chinese military people to "uphold the great banner of socialism with China's characteristics and yield to the command of the Party," it says.

The document says that the campaign is of great importance for mobilizing and encouraging Army officers and soldiers to firmly uphold the great banner of socialism with China's characteristics, constantly pushing forward the preparation for military struggle, and efficiently implement the Army's historic mission in the new century and new period.

The campaign will be combined with the study of Hu's important instructions on the building of defense and the Army under the new situation, it says.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2008)