School of defense set up for training foreign officers

The University of National Defense established on August 5 its School of Defense--the first institution training foreigners ever named a school of defense in the People's Liberation Army (PLA). This is a mark that the Army has brought its foreign training into the track of international standards and practices, and its training cause has entered a new stage of development.

Currently the Army owns more than 20 institutes and organizations capable of training foreign military officers, while the newly founded one is of the highest class which is aimed at training high-ranking military and non-military officers and promoting military and security exchanges and cooperation with other countries, said Major General Zhu Chenghu, President of the School.

The School of Defense grows out of the foreign training department of the University founded in the early 1950s, which has by now trained over thousand senior officers and government officials from more than 100 countries.

In western countries, as is learned, after university graduation a military officer have to undergo various training programs in specific schools to learn commanding, defense and other items. "To become a general is the dream of every serviceman, but before reaching that one must go to a school of defense", said President Zhu.

The School will live up to international standards in teaching and focus on the research of national security and warfare theories.

The School will set up courses to discuss defense and international issues and to train senior commanders and staff officers, which are open to senior military officers and researchers from world countries. Courses of Chinese characteristics are also opened, including the most welcomed "The Art of War" by ancient Chinese strategist Sun Tzu and "China's experience in reform and opening up".

The School will open its first class on international issues on August 16, with 970 attendees from 40-strong countries.

By People's Daily Online