On July 25, 2023, the Chinese Embassy in the United States held a reception to celebrate the 96th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China. Minster Xu Xueyuan, Minster Jing Quan and more than 300 guests attended the reception, including U.S. military officials, friends from various sectors, diplomats of other countries, and representatives of overseas Chinese communities and Chinese institutions in the United States.

Major General Liu Zhan, Defense Attaché of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, delivered a speech. General Liu pointed out that the PLA is the people's army forged by the Communist Party of China. Over the past 96 years, it has made indelible contribution to national independence, the liberation of the people and the prosperity of the country. It has provided unflinching support for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and also contributed significantly to world peace and stability. China is firmly committed to a defense policy that is defensive in nature. The development of China's national defense is always aimed to meet its legitimate security needs, and is always a boost to the force for peace in the world. The Chinese military has actively fulfilled its international responsibilities and obligations, and contributed to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

General Liu emphasized that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests. Taiwan is China's Taiwan. China must be and will be reunited. We will continue to strive for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity and the utmost effort, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force. Should there be any attempt to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, undaunted by any force and ready to make necessary sacrifices.

General Liu pointed out that the world today is far from tranquil. Security challenges abound: political turmoil, armed conflicts, terrorism, natural disasters, energy and food crises, to name only a few. The Global Security Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping is China's answer to the international security dilemma. The PLA will resolutely implement the instructions of President Xi Jinping, and do its utmost to maintain international peace and security and promote global development and prosperity.

General Liu said that mil-to-mil relations are an important part of the China-U.S. relationship, and a stable mil-to-mil relationship is vital to stable bilateral relations. China attaches importance to developing state-to-state and mil-to-mil relations with the United States and conducting communication at various levels. It is hoped that the U.S. side will take concrete actions to demonstrate sincerity, remove obstacles and manage differences, properly handle major issues concerning China's sovereignty, security and development interests, and work together with China to act on the common understanding between the two Presidents and jointly promote the sound and stable development of the relations between the two countries and two militaries.

A photo exhibition themed as “In the Service of Peace and Sharing a Common Future: Chinese Military Maintaining World Peace” was held at the reception. A video showing the active participation of the Chinese military in international security cooperation was also played. The guests expressed warm congratulations on the 96th anniversary of the founding of the PLA, and spoke highly of the PLA’s contribution to world peace. They also offered their best wishes for the sound and stable development of the relations between China and the United States and the two militaries.