They agreed with Jiang's call for building a solid national defense to maintain national safety and unification and help create a more well-off society.

The army must always maintain and improve battle effectiveness and regard its defense capabilities and combat effectiveness as the starting point of all its work, many said.

"The report further elaborates on the guiding thoughts, principles and goals to advance all-round reform and the construction of military forces," said Wang Ke, one of the PLA delegates, according to a Xinhua report.

Cao Gangchuan, another PLA delegate, said Jiang's address on national defense pinpointed the direction for renovating the army in a revolutionary way.

"We need to fine-tune military equipment development in harmony with economic growth and make military equipment production more efficient with higher yields and lower input," Cao said.

Guo Boxiong, another PLA delegate, said renovating the army with science and technology is essential.

Guo added that the army needs to shift gears to building up its quality and effectiveness in war and operations instead of focusing on expanding military enlistment.

"More efforts are needed to transform the army from a human-resources-intensive force into a technology-intensive force," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency & China Daily November 10, 2002)