Speech by MG Wu Xiaoyi, Defense Attaché Embassy of the P.R. of China in Thailand, on the 94th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army

2021-07-30 17:11

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

August 1st of this year marks the 94th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). Over the past 94 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the PLA has braved the flames of war, overcome immense hardships, made tremendous sacrifices and achieved brilliant victories one after another. It has made great historic contributions to the liberation of the Chinese nation, the building and reform of New China, the safeguard of national sovereignty, security and development interests and the maintenance of regional and world peace. In recent years, in order to adapt to the trends of worldwide Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) and needs of national security, China has advanced defense and military modernization across the board and deepened reform in national defense and armed forces in all respects, with historic strides made to strengthen the armed forces. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the military, the PLA in the new era is forging ahead towards the great goal of building itself into a world-class military in an all-round way.

The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century and the COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated the momentous changes, leading to the rise of uncertainties, destabilizing factors and challenges. President Xi Jinping has pointed out that in the face of common challenges, no person or country can remain insulated. The only way out for mankind is to work together in harmony, solidarity and coexistence. The Chinese military is committed to contributing more Chinese wisdom and strength to maintaining world peace and stability. China is the second largest contributor to UN Peacekeeping budget and the largest contributor of troops among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. China has dispatched 38 naval escort task groups to the Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia, providing security to more than 6,900 ships, more than half of which are foreign ships. The hospital ship Peace Ark has fulfilled 9 voyages outside China, visited 43 countries and regions, and provided medical services to more than 230,000 people. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PLA, while ensuring effective COVID-19 control at home, has provided medical supplies to the militaries of more than 50 countries including Tanzania, Serbia, Argentina, Egypt, Thailand and Laos, sent medical expert teams to 4 countries including Cambodia and Pakistan, and held video conferences to share experience on pandemic prevention and control with nearly 20 foreign militaries and international organizations including Thailand, Russia and Singapore, thus providing support and assistance to the best of its capability to the international community.

"China and Thailand are one family." The close ties and kinship has lasted for thousands of years and become even stronger over time. The comprehensive strategic partnership for cooperation between China and Thailand has continued to grow in depth and width. The people of the two countries have shared weal and woe and worked together with solidarity against various challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic. The armed forces of the two countries acted upon orders against all difficulties and played an important role in pandemic containment, emergency rescue, disaster relief and other activities. The two sides held a number of video conferences to exchange experience in pandemic control and poverty alleviation, contributing their due share to national development and people's well-being. At present, the global pandemic situation is still severe, and world peace and regional stability are facing multiple challenges. Our two militaries should continue to support each other as we go through this difficult time, enhance bilateral dialogues and strategic mutual trust, actively explore new models of exchange and cooperation so as to jointly improve the capability to safeguard security and serve the people, to interpret the profound friendship of "one family" between China and Thailand by practical actions.

History and reality has taught us that only by embracing the world can we embrace the future and only by working together can we achieve steady progress. The Chinese government, people and military stand ready to work with the international community, including Thailand, to promote the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom shared by all mankind. We will continue to champion cooperation over confrontation, to open up rather than closing doors, and to focus on mutual benefits instead of zero-sum games. We will oppose hegemony and power politics, and make an active contribution to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.