Recently, Wen Jiabao, premier of the State Council of People’s Republic of China, and Hu Jintao, chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People’s Republic of China, signed the No. 578 order of the State Council and the CMC to promulgate the newly revised Regulations of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on Military Service of Soldiers in Active Service.

　　Based on the Regulations of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on Military Service of Soldiers in Active Service promulgated on June 30, 1999, the newly revised Regulations of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on Military Service of Soldiers in Active Service modified and improved regulations on the solders’ military service management, military ranks, treatment guarantee and retirement from active service in accordance with the new conditions and new requirements on the construction of the rank and file of the PLA in the new period.

　　The newly revised Regulations of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on Military Service of Soldiers in Active Service shows the following points: Firstly, it changes the current 6-period military service of non-commissioned officers (NCOs) into a 3-level one. Secondly, it makes specific provisions on the training and appraisal of soldiers in various categories. Thirdly, it specifies regulations on allocation and use of soldiers. Fourthly, it changes the 6-class military ranks for NCOs to corporal; sergeant; staff sergeant; sergeant, fourth class; sergeant, third class; sergeant, second class and sergeant, first class. Fifthly, it improves regulations on the medical care of soldiers, accompanying issue of soldiers’dependents and housing support. Sixthly, it provides supplementary regulations on the soldiers’ retirement from active service and adopts a more flexible retirement mode for them.

　　By Zhao Mingxing and Wu Tianmin