Xu Caihou, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the 2^nd National Defense Working Conference of Tsinghua University on July 8 and emphasized that we should earnestly carry out the important instructions of Chairman Hu Jintao, actively adapt to the new situation of national security and national defense construction, act on the requirements of the scientific outlook on development in the manner of sticking to the policy of combining the army with the people, preserving military strength among the civilians and bringing scientific research advantages in colleges and universities into full play, and make greater efforts in the cultivation of competent people so as to provide strong backing in terms of competent people and science and technology to the boosting of national defense and army building.

　　Xu Caihou spoke highly of Tsinghua University's contribution to national defense and army building. He noted that the conference epitomized Tsinhua University's care and support for the national defense and army building in the new period, marked the tangible act of Tsinghua University in putting into practice the strategic thinking of rejuvenating the nation by relying on science and education and building up a powerful military with science and technology, and therefore, it was of great significance to enhancing the cooperation between the army and the civil institutions of higher learning in the national defense field in the future.

　　Li Jinai, member of the Central Military Commission and director of the PLA General Political Department, attended the conference. He also took part in the 2006 national defense students' commencement of Tsinghua University and the farewell ceremony for the students who were going to serve in the army, and likewise brought forward his expectations on the students.

　　Other people attended the conference included Zhou Ji, education minister, Sun Laiyan, deputy director of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, leaders of the General Armaments Department, the Navy, the Air Force, the Second Artillery Force and the General Office of the Central Military Commission Li Dongheng, Hu Yanlin, Deng Changyou, Peng Xiaofeng, Jia Ting'an, and leaders of Tsinghua University.

　　By Xu Sheng

　　(July 10, PLA Daily)