Xi stresses employment of demobilized military officers

BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping underscored that the duty of providing demobilized military officers with civilian jobs was a political task, and was closely linked to national defense and military reform.

Xi made the comments during a speech given to a recent top leadership meeting, which was conveyed by Zhao Leji, head of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's organization department, at the 2016 national conference on employment of demobilized officers on Tuesday.

Xi, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), called for greater support and care for demobilized military officers and improving working mechanism, which would help transfer them to civilian posts and assist the ongoing reform push.

Xi said military-civilian cooperation should be strengthened in carrying out the work.

Calling demobilized officers "treasures of the Party and the state" and an important force in building socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi said employment of them should be handled well so that they could play their roles.

"Rejecting to provide positions for demobilized officers under any pretext is not allowed," he added.

A long-term solution for arranging civilian jobs for demobilized officers would be deepened reform, Xi noted, calling for measures to improve the management and security mechanism for demobilized officers and to perfect the public service system as well as relevant policies, laws and regulations.

Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended Tuesday's meeting. Liu underscored Xi's comments.

He also called for better services for officers who look for employment on their own.

Demobilized officers should be given guidance so that they can make fresh contributions, Liu added.

Party committees and governments at all levels should place special emphasis on the employment of demobilized officers, and this should be an important criterion for evaluating the performance of the leading group and leading officials, according to Liu.

He also highlighted strict observance of relevant policies during the employment.

Vice Premier Ma Kai called for better channels of employment for demobilized officers and enhanced related services, including training, and added that more support should be extended to the families of officers who have to relocate for work.