The Chinese armed forces were called to continue to modernize in the new era and faithfully implement the Global Security Initiative, said Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu on Monday before the country's Army Day, which falls on August 1.

Minister Li made the remarks at a reception held by the Ministry of National Defense in celebration of the 96th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). He stated the PLA will speed up the building of the armed forces into a world-class military.

Nowadays, the PLA has evolved from a "millet plus rifles" single-service force into a modern organization with sophisticated equipment and technologies. The goal of the modernization of China's national defense capabilities is simple: to be more efficient in the country's self-defense.

The PLA has become more streamlined, with the total strength cut to around two million. Following a downsizing of one million soldiers in the 1980s, its overall size was reduced by another half a million personnel between 1997 and 2000. And from 2003-2005, the army was further reduced by 200,000 troops.

Alongside the modernization drive, the profile of recruits has also changed. About 57 percent of the active PLA personnel received a college degree or above.

A country's defense expenditure is determined by various factors, including the demands of national defense, the size of its economy and its defense policy. China's defense budget has accounted for around 1.2-1.3 percent of its GDP over the past decade.

The country pursues a national defense policy that is purely defensive in nature. Government spokespeople and official documents have stressed on multiple occasions that China will never seek hegemony, expansion or sphere of influence.

The Chinese military will not only protect China and its people, but also faithfully implement the Global Security Initiative and make contributions to safeguard world peace and stability.

China is the second largest contributor to peacekeeping assessment and the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Data editor: Yao Nian

Graphics designer: Mukesh Mohanan