Kong Quan, head of the Information Department of China's Foreign Ministry, said that this was the first time for many years that Chinese army barracks allowed in so many foreign journalists.

Officers of the army brigade and air force division based at the barracks briefed the visitors on military history, systems, training and participation in civilian projects.

The journalists visited officers dormitories, arsenal, army museum and hangars. They also dined and chatted with Chinese soldiers and watched a performance of military skills by the land forces.

Christian Euler, a sound engineer with the Bureau Beijing of ARD German Television, said that he was impressed by the sharp- shooting soldiers. He also praised the Chinese army's military march.

Jaime A. FlorCruz, CNN's Beijing Bureau chief, said that this was the third time he had visited the army. He said that during the 20 years he had worked in China, the brigade had become smaller but its equipment had improved.

The Chinese army had steadily become more open and this helped foreign countries better understand it, he said.

As an example, the army brigade has received 47,754 foreign visitors in 1,834 groups.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2002)