China's Central Military Commission (CMC) promoted another senior military officer to the rank of general on Friday, bringing the total number of generals to 168.
CMC Chairman Hu Jintao awarded Chang Wanquan, head of the PLA General Armaments Department, the certificate of command at a promotion ceremony. An order for the promotion was announced by CMC Vice-Chairman Guo Boxiong.
Chang, born in 1949, is also a CMC member.
Hu Jintao (C), chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), poses for photos at the promotion ceremony awarding Chang Wanquan (2nd, R), head of the PLA General Armaments Department, in Beijing, Nov. 2, 207. Chang Wanquan was promoted general at the ceremony.China began to confer military ranks to military and police officers in 1955, when Chairman Mao Zedong promoted 10 senior officers to the rank of marshal, which was later abolished.
Premier Zhou Enlai then issued a decree conferring the rank of general on 55 officers in 1955 and one each in 1956 and 1958.
Two veterans of the revolution that founded the People's Republic of China who were among the first group of generals are still alive: 99-year-old Xiao Ke, who was a member of the former
CPC Central Advisory Commission; and 102-year-old Lu Zhengcao, former vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
In 1965, the CMC abolished the system of military ranks and then resumed it in 1988. Since then, 111 senior military and police officers have been promoted to the rank of full general.
The PLA recognizes 10 military ranks for officers in active service: general, lieutenant general and major general; senior colonel, colonel, lieutenant colonel and major; captain, first lieutenant and second lieutenant.
Source:Xinhua
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