On July 28, 2011, the Defense Section of the Chinese Embassy in the UK held a grand reception to celebrate the 84th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). The reception was hosted by Major General Zhang Jianguo, the Defense Attaché, and attended by Charge d'Affaires Ad Interim Qin Gang. Around 200 British military officials, military attachés in the UK from various countries and representatives from the academic circle, the military circle, the press, the Chinese community and the friendly people in the UK were present at the reception.

In his address to the reception, Defense Attaché Zhang Jianguo said that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, great achievements have been made in PLA's modernization drive. The Chinese army has developed into a modern military force with deterrent and combat capabilities, and, proceeding from the new historical starting point, the army will further its modernization process. China pursues a defensive national defense policy, always adheres to the principle of peaceful development and is working to strengthen the security cooperation, enhance the mutual trust and promote the common interests with other countries. The Chinese military is playing an increasingly important role in the fields such as UN peacekeeping, combating piracy and humanitarian relief. With the joint efforts of both China and the UK, the relations between the two countries have maintained a good momentum of development in recent years, and the China-UK military ties have been constantly strengthened. The Defense Attaché believes that continuous progress will be made in the military relations between China and the UK, and that the friendship between the Chinese army and those of other countries around the world will be further deepened.

The reception entertained the guests in a warm atmosphere. Air Marshal Christopher Nichols, Chief of Defense Intelligence, Mr. Oliver Waghorn, special representative of the Secretary of State for Defense, and other guests expressed their congratulations on the achievements made by the Chinese army in its modernization drive and looked forward to the further strengthening of the military ties between China and the UK.