State Councilor and Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan called for
further popularizing and strengthening national defense education
at a gathering held Saturday to mark China's Fourth National
Defense Day.
Cao, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of
China (CPC) Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central
Military Commission (CMC), addressed the gathering on behalf of the
State Council, the CMC and the State Commission for the
Mobilization of National Defense.
He urged local party committees and governments, as well as
military authorities, to substantially implement the Law on the
Education of National Defense.
Memorial activities were conducted nationwide to mark National
Defense Day. Sept. 18 is also the 73rd anniversary of the invasion
of northeast China by Japanese troops.
In some cities, air-raid sirens were sounded to remind local
people of past wars and possible warfare in the future.
(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2004)