Cameroonian Defence Minister and Romanian National Defence Secretary visit China; GLD completes first international bidding for procurement; 300 subjects of military importance identified for research;
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  • According to reports, last week, Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo’o, the Defense Minister of Cameroon visited China. He met Guo Boxiong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) on 7 April in Beijing. During the meeting, Guo Boxiong reiterated that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 40 years ago, the two countries had been enjoying sound bilateral relationship with continuously expanding cooperation and deepening traditional friendship between the peoples of the two countries. He also highlighted that the military relations had been continuously strengthened as evidenced by increasing military exchanges and fruitful cooperation in various fields. The visiting Cameroonian Defence Minister conveyed his gratitude for the long-term assistance provided by the Chinese side, and hoped to further deepen the exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries.1 Apart from the Cameroonian Defence Minister, the state secretary of the Ministry of National Defense of Romania Viorel Oancea also visited China last week. He met Li Jinai, member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and director of the General Political Department of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army 7 April in Beijing. On this occasion, Li Jinai stated that the China-Romania comprehensive friendly cooperative partnership continued to make new progress at different levels and in wide-ranging areas. He also said that China appreciated the consistent support that Romanian has extended to China on its core interests. On this occasion, Oancea also expressed his gratitude to China for its support and assistance to Romania.2

    According to reports, the General Logistics Department (GLD) of the PLA has recently completed the 2010 international competitive bidding for military supplies completed successfully in March, 2011. A website www.chinabidding.com was operated for this purpose. This bidding was the first large-scale international competitive bidding independently carried out by the PLA. In fact, the statistics revealed by the GLD of the PLA shows that this independent international competitive bidding has saved nearly RMB 160 million yuan for military users in the procurement of equipment and materials such as medical facilities, printing equipment, engineering equipment and mechanical processing equipment.3

    Another report noted that the PLA and the Chinese People’s Armed Police Force (APF) have identified more than 300 subjects for research of military importance for the 12th Five-Year Plan period.4 However, According to the media reports, a destroyer flotilla of the South China Sea Fleet under the Navy of the PLA has recently carried out to test the effectiveness of new sea battle tactics for the new-type frigates. In this maritime drill, important data were collected. In fact, the media informed that since February last, the flotilla has conducted several actual-troop confrontation drills involving the new-type frigates to practice air defense and anti-missile attack, precise strike, mobile avoidance and other military maneuverings under various complicated situations. The media noted that this flotilla has introduced a series of innovative fighting and training methods used in air defense and anti-missile combats as well as anti-submarine actions by warship formations. Out of these methods, 11 have been popularized within the PLA Navy.5

    Meanwhile, during the 12th Five-Year Plan period, the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM) and the Surveying and Mapping Bureau of the General Staff Headquarters (SMBGSH) will adopt the measures of establishing a coordination mechanism facilitating the military and civilian integrated development, improving the regulations and standards, and pushing forward achievement sharing and exchange as well as scientific and technological innovation cooperation. The purpose of this integration is to gradually establish a win-win mapping system featuring integration of military and civilian purposes and combination of peacetime and wartime footing.6

    In other developments, reports noted that recently, the warship formation of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has successfully concluded its friendly visit to South Africa. It left the port of Durban on 8 April for Seychelles. Seychelles is the last stop of its three-African-country tour.7

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