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| Premier on Defense, Stability |
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It is of vital importance to ensure national security and social stability in the new circumstances, said Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Tuesday when delivering the Report on the Work of the Government at the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress （NPC）.
China must take strict precautions against and firmly crack down on, according to law, sabotage by hostile forces both inside and outside China, crack down on criminal activities perpetrated by forces of terrorism, religious extremism and ethnic separatism, and continue to fight Falun Gong and other cults, he said.
"In order to make the entire society significantly safer, we must severely deal with criminal activities and underworld criminal forces in accordance with the law and improve public security where it is weak," the premier stressed.
The premier said that under the principle of combining action with prevention while putting prevention first, the government will implement measures for the all－round improvement of social order, and actively establish a prevention and control system for public security and a mechanism that guarantees that funds are available for operations of procuratorial, judicial and public security organs.
Community development and management and political power at the grass－roots level in rural areas will be strengthened, Zhu said. Contradictions among the people under the new circumstances have to be handled correctly so that factors liable to adversely affect social stability can be eliminated at the grass－roots level while still in the embryonic stage, he noted.
The premier pointed out that the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups lie in strengthening ethnic unity and safeguarding the unification of the country.
The government will adhere to and improve the system under which ethnic minority groups practice self－government in the regions they inhabit； fully implement the Party's policy on ethnic groups and consolidate and develop the socialist relationships of equality, unity and mutual assistance among different ethnic groups； and support and assist the ethnic minority regions to speed up development, according to Zhu.
The government will continue to implement the "Program to Develop Border Areas and Improve the Lives of the People There", he said, adding that great efforts will be made to train cadres and talented personnel from among ethnic minority groups.
He said it is important to implement the Party's policy on freedom of religious belief, administer religious affairs effectively and in accordance with the law, and actively guide various religions to adapt to socialist society.
Religious circles must adhere to the principle of self－administration and running religious affairs independently, and expand the contingent of religious patriots.
The government will conscientiously implement the policy towards overseas Chinese and handle overseas Chinese affairs well.
Zhu made it a point that strengthening national defense and building up the armed forces constitute an important guarantee for national security and the smooth development of China's socialist modernization drive.
In line with the general requirements of "being qualified politically and competent militarily, having a fine style of work, maintaining strict discipline and being assured of adequate logistical support," and taking the military strategy of active defense for the new era as the guideline, China will strengthen the armed forces through science and technology, run the armed forces by high standards and concentrate on quality without neglecting thrift.
This aims at building a more modernized, standardized and revolutionary army and improving its effectiveness in wars to defend the country and in handling emergency situations when the use of high technologies has become predominant in warfare, Zhu said.
He said that China will accelerate the restructuring, reform and development of its defense industry, raise the level of scientific research and innovation and promote the development of weaponry and equipment.
The reform of logistical services must be deepened to achieve better performance of the military economy and provide more effective comprehensive support.
Work will be done to strengthen the People's Armed Police； improve the national defense mobilization system； consolidate the militia and reserve forces； improve national defense education； encourage the armed forces to support the government and cherish the people, encourage the people to support the army, and give preferential treatment to families of service people and martyrs； and consolidate and strengthen unity between the army and the government and between the army and the people.
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