President Hu Jintao has praised the work of the country's military and its navy at the Party Congress of deputies of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

President Hu described the People's Liberation Army as people of fine traditions. Hu, who is also Chairman of the Central Military Commission, urged the Navy to accelerate its transformation and modernization.

He said in order to make greater contributions to safeguarding national security and world peace, the Navy needs to make preparations for military struggle.

Hu hailed the achievements in the PLA's armament work over recent years and saluted all comrades who work for the PLA's armaments.

Chinese navy has gone through profound change since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, growing in strength from troops armed with conventional gunboats to the modern combat vessels seen today. Navy commander Wu Shengli, said China's navy now owns dozens of frigates and hundreds of third-grade-and-above combat ships.

The People's Liberation Army has recently announced the establishment of a new department called the "Strategic Planning Department" as the army was modernizing itself . Stated charter of the SPD include the study of critical strategic issues; drafting of plans and reform proposals for PLA development; submitting suggestions on allocation of the PLA's strategic resources and examining and evaluating implementation of plans for the PLA development.