President heads new commission bringing contractors into the fold

The government has made substantial progress with its efforts to boost civil-military integration, as a top body in charge of the issue takes shape.

President Xi Jinping led the first plenary session of the Central Commission for Integrated Military and Civilian Development in Beijing on June 20. Xi also is chairman of the Central Military Commission, the nation's highest military ruling body.

The session reviewed and passed the codes of conduct for the commission and its standing office, a plan for the commission's work in the near future as well as a set of guidelines for the establishment of local departments overseeing civil-military integration affairs.

The move indicates the commission and its standing office are able to execute their responsibilities after spending the past several months organizing themselves.

In China, civil-military integration generally refers to the military and defense industry transferring technologies to civilian sectors, including private companies on the military's suppliers list. So far, State-owned defense contractors still dominate the research, development and production of weapons and equipment for the People's Liberation Army.

Among key areas affected are defense, infrastructure construction, personnel training, new energy, aerospace and the internet.

In late January, the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee set up the commission with Xi as its head. It was the first time the top leadership had established a dedicated body on civil-military integration.

Also attending the June 20 meeting were members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Premier Li Keqiang, Liu Yunshan and Vice-Premier Zhang Gaoli.

At the meeting, Xi urged government departments and military authorities to spare no efforts to boost civil-military integration because it is crucial in responding to the complicated security challenges the nation faces and to gain strategic advantages.

He pledged to open more space in the defense sector to private enterprises and break vested interests, saying obstacles hindering private companies' participation must be removed.

Xi, in his capacity as chairman of the Central Military Commission, has repeatedly stressed the significance of civil-military integration.

In March, he told military deputies to the national legislature that the PLA must take advantage of China's achievements in science and technology to help modernize its weapons and equipment. The PLA now regularly publishes its needs in technology, equipment and services on a procurement website.

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(China Daily European Weekly 06/23/2017 page15)