CPC sets three timed goals for national defense

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The Communist Party of China (CPC) has set three new goals with deadlines for the development of China's armed forces.

"We will see that, by the year 2020, mechanization is basically achieved, IT application has come a long way, and strategic capabilities have seen a big improvement," Xi announced during his address at the opening session of the CPC's 19th National Congress.

The second deadline is 2035, by which the "modernization of our national defense and our forces is basically completed," Xi said.

Xi also said that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) will become a "world-class force" by the mid-21st century.

In addition to the three goals, the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics will also be applied to the army, as Xi announced the Party's will to achieve "transformation of military management".

Another highlight of Xi's words on defense was military-civilian integration, which he sees as a national strategy.

"We will speed up implementation of major projects, deepen reform of defense-related science, technology, and industry, achieve greater military-civilian integration, and build integrated national strategies and strategic capabilities," he said in the speech.

Watch CGTN for the live coverage of the opening session of the 19th CPC National Congress