Chinese Mission to the Africa Union and Chinese Embassy to Ethiopia jointly held a grand reception on Thursday at Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa to celebrate the 92nd Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).
During the occasion Senior Colonel Wang Ximao, Defense Advisor of the Chinese Mission to the AU and the host of the reception said that PLA is committed to world peace and to support Africa in peace and security arena.
He further emphasized on the importance of putting Africa First in cooperating with Africa, and underscored China’s unswerving support for finding “Africa solutions to African Problems”.
Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Kwesi Mugoba, Chief of Staff of the African Stand by Force Trust Mugoba, General Director of the Defense Foreign Relations Directorate of the Ethiopian Defense Force Brigadier General Bultie Tadesse, Chief of the Ethiopian Defense Medical Main Department Brigadier General Yilma Mekuaninte and other 300 high ranking senior officials were in attendance.
The reception was featured with photo gallery and short film introducing China’s National Defense in the new era and the PLA’s international peace commitment.
China's National Defense and military in recent years have realized historic transformation and development and the people's military has taken on a new look with new systems and structures, it was noted.
In addition, the PLA will actively and intensively participate in international security and military cooperation, and conduct a variety of operations including international peacekeeping, anti-piracy escort, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and provide more international public security goods.
China marks People's Liberation Army every year on August 1.
According to Xinhua, China has established a peacekeeping standby force of 8,000 troops. The PLA has participated in 24 UN peacekeeping missions, sending some 35,000 personnel so far.