Chinese soldiers and armed policemen voiced support for Hu Jintao's keynote speech at the opening of the 17th National Congress of Communist Party of China (CPC) on Monday, calling it inspiring and practical.

Soldiers and officers across the country were impressed by Hu's speech about modernizing China's armed forces and building a harmonious society.

"We fully support Hu Jintao's report and will modernize our armed forces with the latest technologies including information technology and we will work hard to serve the country and the people heart and soul," said Yang Jiong, an army officer stationed in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

"What we common soldiers shall do is to work harder to help meet the requirements of the goal of developing a moderately prosperous society," he said.

Officers and soldiers also pledged to hold on the fine tradition of the Chinese armies in the new age of the country's social and economic development and in maintaining world peace and stability.

The Chinese army will accelerate the composite development of mechanization and computerization and carry out military training under IT-based conditions, his remarks reflected the feeling of the vast number of soldiers and officers across the country.

The soldiers and armed policemen hailed Hu's report on the country's blueprint for social and economic development in the coming years.

"China will see faster economic growth, more political democracy, better education service, more colorful cultures and people's higher living standards if we well implement the guidelines and policies in Hu's report," said Che Yu, a veteran from the antiaircraft brigade of Beijing Military Area Command.

"Hu's speech has given me more confidence that only socialism with Chinese characteristics, reform and opening-up can put forward China's vigorous development," said Wang Lichen, an army officer quartering at northeast China's Liaoning Province.

Scientists and experts from Academy of Military Sciences, University of National Defense said the opening of the 17th CPC national congress has signaled China's faster pace towards a society of moderate prosperity.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2007)