BEIJING -- The National Conference on Work Related to Veterans Affairs was convened in Beijing on July 29. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important instruction on veterans affairs. He extended warm congratulations on outstanding units and individuals who were honored for their contributions to the work on veterans affairs, and extended heartfelt greetings to those actively engaged in veterans work.

Xi stressed that ex-service personnel are a valuable asset of the Party and the country, and an important force in advancing Chinese modernization. How the work is done on veterans affairs is of significance to the country's reform, development and stability, and its cause to strengthen and develop the armed forces. On the new journey of the new era, new contributions and new achievements must be made in work on veterans affairs.

It is imperative to adhere to the guidance of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the guiding principles from the 20th CPC National Congress and the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, uphold the principle that work on veterans affairs must serve economic and social development and the development of national defense and the armed forces, focus on the needs of promoting Chinese modernization and the aspirations of ex-service personnel, and further comprehensively deepen reform, Xi said.

It is essential to continuously improve the systems of organizational management, work operation, and policy and institutions so as to do a good job in resettling ex-service personnel, providing them with good services, managing and educating them well, giving full scope to their roles, and protecting their rights and interests. In this way, military service is made an honorable occupation and ex-service personnel are respected in the whole society, he said.

Xi expressed the hope that all ex-service personnel will maintain their character as soldiers of revolutionary armed forces, remain firm in their convictions, be patriotic and dedicate themselves to the country, and forge ahead with enterprise to make new and greater contribution to building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

State Councilor Shen Yiqin read out Xi's important instruction and delivered a speech. She said that General Secretary Xi's important instruction fully demonstrated the great importance he attaches to the work on veterans affairs and his great care for ex-service personnel. It is essential to earnestly implement General Secretary Xi's important instruction, focus on advancing Chinese modernization and further comprehensively deepen reform, have a stronger sense of responsibility and make new achievements in serving the building of a strong country and the strengthening of the military, raising the level of service and support, and preventing and mitigating risks. It is also important to guide the vast number of ex-service personnel to actively participate in the building of modernization, and continuously create new prospects for high-quality work on veterans affairs.

At the meeting, 397 national model veterans, 100 national model units on veteran affairs and 80 exemplary individuals were honored.

Miao Hua, a member of the CMC, attended the meeting.