Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Ma. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the news outlet you represent before raising your questions.

China Central Television:

What steps has the MVA taken to ensure ex-service personnel have a role in human resource management? Are there any future plans? Thank you.

Ma Feixiong:

Thanks for your question. This has long been one of our work priorities. Let me elaborate on this.

Retired military personnel, who have undergone strict training in the army, are mostly equipped with well-rounded qualifications. They are major human resources contributing to developing a modern socialist country. Over the past four years, the MVA has been conscientiously following the guidelines of General Secretary Xi Jinping and encouraging veterans to play their due roles through various measures. First, we have strengthened theoretical and political guidance. We have constantly carried out a series of campaigns to encourage veterans to follow the Party's leadership, organized education campaigns for veterans, selected and honored model veterans, organized campaigns to learn from outstanding veterans, issued privilege cards to entitled groups, held burial ceremonies for remains of CPV martyrs from the ROK, and encouraged ex-service personnel to pass on the revolutionary traditions and the exemplary conduct of the Chinese military and make new contributions in the new era. Second, centered on the requirements of the "six stabilities" and "six guarantees" by the CPC Central Committee, we encourage ex-service personnel to contribute their share to economic development. We have helped settle down 1.85 million ex-service members, helped 2.26 million veterans to find a job or start a business, encouraged 3.5 million ex-service members who became small business owners and played their role as market entities, and initiated over 10,000 startup and innovation projects for veterans. These efforts have helped stabilize the economy and energize the market. Third, revolving around the modernization of China's governance system and capacity, we have encouraged veterans to engage in rural revitalization efforts and to participate in the work of the village committee and Party committee in accordance with the laws and regulations. Over 270,000 ex-service personnel have become members of village and Party committees to serve the people better. We have also organized over 247,000 volunteer service teams consisting of veterans and recruited over 3.5 million veteran volunteers that work on the frontlines of Covid-19 response, as well as disaster rescue and relief. We also selected excellent ex-service members to work as primary and secondary school teachers, police officers or auxiliary officers, and community workers to serve the people and society.

For the next step, we will make good use of the veterans in the workforce, give them their role to play, and encourage them to become a determined force that follows the leadership of the Party, contributes to socio-economic development, and becomes a backup force for national defense and military building, as well as a major volunteer force for emergency rescue and relief, so as to better serve the modernization of the socialist country. Thank you!