Chinese President Hu urges further modernization of PLA Navy

The navy had played an important role in protecting China's sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity, promoting the reform and opening up drive and socialist modernization, and safeguarding world peace and development, he said.

The president expressed hope that the navy would achieve further development.

Thursday morning, Hu reiterated that the country's military build-up was purely defense-oriented.

In a meeting with heads of 29 foreign navy delegations gathered for the PLA Navy's anniversary celebration, Hu pledged that China's armed forces, including the navy, would never be a threat to other nations.

China would always be an important force in safeguarding world peace and development, he said.

"For now and in the future, China would never seek hegemony, nor would it turn to military expansion or arms races with other nations," he said.

Editor:Xiong Qu