In a panoramic view of the global situation, China is welcoming an important period of strategic opportunities that China must catch firmly and take by the forelock to make great achievements.

　　For the army, seizing the opportunity means securing success. The waves of new revolution in military affairs in the world are surging toward us. It is more of an opportunity than challenge for the Chinese armed forces. Whether the Chinese military is able to catch the opportunity to make leapfrog progress has a direct bearing on the overall situation of the nation and army building and also on whether the Chinese armed forces are capable of offering a strong and reliable security guarantee to safeguard the important period of strategic opportunities of the nation. The history of world military revolutions, which is full of ups and downs, shows that each revolution would inevitably become a watershed to separate new military powers from those declining ones in their national defense strength. The primary driving force of the current military revolution worldwide is the transformation of human society from an industrialized society to an informationalized one while information technology is advancing at a tremendous pace. As said of a futurologist, “if we do not create a future, then tomorrow we will live in the past.”

　　The year of 2005 is the last year of the Tenth-Five Year Plan Period and an important year to speed up the military changes with Chinese characteristics. To carry through the spirit of the annual sessions of the 10^th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the 10^th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is actually to pay special attention to the implementation with the spirit of truth-seeking and being pragmatic. All the deputies of the PLA delegation to the 3^rd Session of the 10^th NPC have reached the consensus that they would bear the primary functions of the army in mind, earnestly shoulder the historic mission of the army at the new period of the new century and live up to the trusts of the Party and the people. The sonorous and forceful words stimulate the listeners.

　　By Chen Guangzhao

　　(Mar. 15, PLA Daily)