Priority treatment urged for policy supporting PLA

Key military departments have urged government units at various levels to help the PLA adjust to market conditions.

They were urged to realise the strategic importance of integrating defence construction with economic development.

The instruction came in a notice, issued by the People's Liberation Army's General Political Department, the Leading Group for Supporting the Army and Giving Preferential Treatment to the Families of Armymen and Martyrs and the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The order said formulation of a proper policy to support the Army should be given priority by the party and local governments.

The document asked various departments to study the strategy adopted by Shanghai, which it said had given full consideration to the overall social development plan.

'For example, local governments must fully consider the needs of defence and troop construction during city planning; civilian needs and wartime needs must be balanced,' the order said.

'The need to provide social security to voluntary soldiers should be incorporated into the newly developed social security system,' it said.

The notice also said that although foreign investment was welcome to boost the defence industry, specific national defence responsibilities of such joint ventures should not be ignored and must be clearly stated.

Shanghai had passed more than five regulations to ensure the rights of soldiers which included preferential treatment for those displaced to find jobs and accommodation, Xinhua (the New China News Agency) quoted the notice as saying.