Reserve officers and soldiers with an artillery division of the Hebei Provincial Military Command take part in live ammunition training in the Huangyangtan Shooting Range in Hebei Province.[Wu Zhiyi/China Daily] Slideshow: PLA's 80th Anniversary

A grand rally opened in Beijing on Wednesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and to honor the heroes and model servicemen.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao presided over the rally, during which President Hu Jintao is to deliver a keynote speech.

Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has grown in strength and become more modernized and professional through eight decades of development, Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, noted in his speech at the rally.

Chinese President Hu Jintao delivers a speech during the reception marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of People's Liberation Army (PLA) at the Great Hall of the People August 1, 2007. [Reuters]

The PLA is "no longer a small, single-service force, but a strong and multiple-service force," which has made progress in modernization and is stepping toward an information technology-based army, he said.

"By putting in place a comprehensive scientific, technological and industrial structure for national defense, the PLA is increasingly better positioned to defend the nation," Hu said.

It has cleared a path of development that suits China's realities, improved its own organizations and structures, enhanced logistic and equipment support capabilities, and cultivated many competent military professionals for the new era, he said.

"All these have strengthened the PLA's capability to better perform its mission and provided a solid foundation for the basic realization of defense and military modernization," he added.

Developing defense-related science, technology  

Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, said at the grand rally marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) that the country should boost the capacity for independent innovation.

"We must press ahead with the reform and development of national defense science and technology sector," he said.

He also said committees of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and governments at all levels should support the enhancement of military capabilities.

"Party committees and governments at all levels should do a good job in supporting the army and giving preferential treatment to families of servicemen," he said.

He also urged strengthening people's armed police to enable it to uphold state security and social stability and protect the life and work of the people.

Hu urged in his speech the upgrading of defense-related science and technology and weaponry, saying that the country should boost the capacity for independent innovation.

"We must press ahead with the reform and development of national defense science and technology sector," he said.

He also said committees of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and governments at all levels should support the enhancement of military capabilities.

"Party committees and governments at all levels should do a good job in supporting the army and giving preferential treatment to families of servicemen," he said.

He also urged strengthening people's armed police to enable it to uphold state security and social stability and protect the life and work of the people.