On August 1, 1927, a gunshot rang out in Nanchang City on the banks of the Gan River, and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) was born from ashes on this calamity-ridden land. Over the past 95 years, no matter how many obstacles or sacrifices it has encountered, this army has always upheld the leadership of the Communist Party of China, never changed its original aspirationand kept in mind its founding mission firmly. The PLA has become the mainstay and strong cornerstone of the Chinese nation's struggle for independence,the people’s pursuit of liberation, and the revitalization of the country, and established immortal historical achievements.
The picture scroll of the new era is slowly unfolding. In 2012, the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was successfully held, and the PLA once again started a magnificent journey of rebirth. In the past ten years, under the guidance of Xi Jinping's thinking on strengthening the armed force, the PLA has unswervingly adhered to its own path in building a strong military with Chinese characteristicsand has continuously worked to enhance the political loyalty of the armed forces, strengthen them through reform, science and technology and run them in accordance with the law. Through an all-around revolutionary restructuring, the PLA has become the support and backing of China's century-old ambition and pursuit of the great cause of rejuvenation.
China always remains committed to peaceful development and pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature.The development of the Chinese military does not pose a threat to any country. At present, the PLA has conducted military exchanges with more than 150 countrieswith strategic mutual trust being increased vastly. China is the largest troop contributing country among the permanent members of the UNSC and the second largest contributor to UN peacekeeping funds. It has dispatched more than 40,000 peacekeeping officers and soldiers. China has increasingly become an important and strong force in maintaining world peace.
Faced with great changes unseen in a century, President Xi Jinping put forward the global security initiative by advocating the importance of upholding the new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. Based on the fact that humanity is living in an indivisible security community, the world should follow a new path of security featuring dialogue instead of confrontation, partnership instead of alliance and win-win rather than zero-sum game. The PLA is willing to work with armed forces around the world to live in harmony, learn from each other, and work together to contribute its due strength to building a global security community.
Estonia is an important cooperative partner of China in Europe and the Baltic region.China is ready to work with Estonia tostrengthen communication, exchanges and cooperation in various fields on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, with a view to promoting the continuous improvement of inter-governmental, civil and military friendship to deepen understanding and expand cooperation to a higher level.